Divine Iheme: British sprinter dubbed ‘the new Noah Lyles’ breaks 60m world record twice at age 15 | News from athletics
Divine Iheme could be the name everyone is talking about in the future; The British sprinter has been compared to Noah Lyles after breaking the 100m and 60m world records for his age group
Last update: 6/01/25 10:08
Fifteen-year-old Divine Iheme broke the 60m world record for his age group on Sunday in London.
Iheme, who has been dubbed the new Noah Lyles, twice broke J-Mee Samuels’ 2003 mark of 6.74, clearing 6.71 and 6.72 at the next BFTTA Indoor Series.
He is already fourth on the all-time British U18 60m, 0.02 off Mark Lewis-Francis’ 1999 record of 6.69.
Last year, Iheme ran 10.3 in the 100m, which was almost a second faster than the best time set by Olympic champion Lyles at the age of 14.
The teenager cut two tenths of a second, a huge sprint difference, from the previous record and has a bright future ahead of him.
“When I first saw it, I was in complete shock, I couldn’t believe it! I was jumping, running around, I felt so happy, but I couldn’t have done it without God,” said Iheme, speaking exclusively on Sky Sports News.
“Noah Lyles is a great athlete and has given me a lot of confidence to continue this career, run faster, get better times.
“I feel like it gives me the confidence to push through more and more obstacles as I go through my journey.”
Iheme reveals looking at Bolt as he saw him start to sprint
If you want to be the best, then you have to learn from the best and that is exactly what Iheme is doing.
The young sprinting sensation, nicknamed ‘Lightning’ for his speed, studied as hard as he ever could and revealed that watching Usain Bolt as a child cemented his desire to become a world-class sprinter.
He also believes he has a unique and inimitable running style, like the Jamaican who holds the world record.
“I watched a lot of Usain Bolt and Allyson Felix races in the 200m, 400m relay,” Iheme said. Sky Sports.
“Probably the first race I watched was his [Bolt’s] World record 200 meters, 19.19, I was inspired to follow the dream.
“I try my best to slingshot outside the bend [in 200m] and I continue to hold first until I cross the finish line.
“In my opinion, I think it’s mine [running style] is unique and natural. I’m not trying to model it off anyone.”
Iheme is faster than Noah Lyles was at his age
A natural talent? Or in the genes?
Iheme said Sky Sports he has already committed to represent Great Britain despite his parents having previously represented Nigeria at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
His grandparents were runners and his mother Nkiruka Anu and father Innocent Iheme were successful athletes in their own right – his father competed in the 100m long jump and his mother in the 100m and 200m like him.
Iheme believes he is blessed with a unique talent, but he is also grateful to his parents – especially his mother, who is his coach – for helping him make the most of his gift.
“I would say that it is my God-given talent,” he added. “But [it’s] also [worth mentioning]my parents who trained, helped me achieve this step by step – get faster, train harder.
“The training was very tiring, but it’s worth it.”
