BERLIN WOW
Britain boasts two of the fastest men in the world.. and they go head-to-head tonight
ZHARNEL HUGHES plans on owning an airline – Reece Prescod just wants to buy his mum a Volkswagen Beetle.
Britain’s sprint kings have little in common when it comes to their idea of a dream machine.
But today they will be united by a need for speed of the most basic variety when they contest Europe’s fast show.
Whoever wins the 100metres showdown, in the stadium where Usain Bolt broke the world record and before that Jesse Owens defied Hitler, will propel himself towards fame and fortune. Hughes, dubbed “captain” by ex-training partner Bolt as he works towards his pilot’s licence, is already flying high.
Prescod, twice British champion at the age of 22, prefers to keep his feet firmly on the ground.
“I’ve got real life to deal with,” said the Londoner. “I’ve still got to pay my council tax, my service charge, and things like that.
“I come from a single parent family and my mum’s helped me out for the past couple of years. So my priority is to look after her.
“She needs a car, she wants a Beetle Convertible. I can’t ignore that. I can’t make it all about me. Anyway, I’m not one for frivolous things.
“If I went to the Gucci or Louis Vuitton store and bought something, everything would go, ‘That’s cool’. But is it really cool? I’d rather just be a champion.”
Prescod is ranked fifth behind Hughes, but was one of only two Europeans to make last year’s world final – the other being Frenchman Jimmy Vicaut.
Vicaut is back for more, but Prescod is unfazed by the occasion.
“I don’t wake up to be the best in Europe,” he said. “What drives me to train is to be world champion – to be the best. This is a stepping stone to what I want to do.”
Hughes has this year been shot at in Jamaica and disqualified for obstruction after ‘winning’ the Commonwealth Games 200m.
“I’ve been through a lot,” said the 23-year-old, who clocked 9.91secs in June, and went even faster when breaking his pilot school’s solo flight record.
“It has helped me create a strong mindset.”
Dina Asher-Smith, Hughes’ former girlfriend, is favourite to land the women’s 100m, whilst Andy Vernon aims to improve on his 10,000m silver medal behind Mo Farah in Zurich.