Auburn for Azeem
Guessing game over 100m sprinter’s training attachment in the us ends
“Bringing the speed down to the land, because speed is what I do.” Leroy burrell (olympics 4x100m gold medallist)
PETALING JAYA: The guessing game over where Mohd Azeem Fahmi is headed next to develop his promising athletics career is over with the national sprinter opting to further his studies at Auburn University in the United States.
The 18-year-old from Perak announced his latest move after he uploaded a picture of himself being signed on by Auburn, which has former Olympics gold medallist and world record holder Leroy Burrell as the head coach for track and field.
“From Malaysia to Auburn. Welcome Home Azeem,” Azeem posted on his Instagram account (IG) along with a picture showing him signed by Auburn.
Burrell, who broke the 100m world record twice, also welcomed the arrival of the 18-year-old sprinter.
“Bringing the speed down to the land, because speed is what I do,” said Burrell, who is 55 this year and won gold alongside Carl Lewis as part of the 4x100m relay quartet at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992.
Burrell was a 100m silver medallist at the 1991 World Championships in Tokyo.
After scoring 6As in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination, Azeem went on to break the 100m national record with a sensational time of 10.09 at the Under-20 World Athletics Championships in Colombia in August.
Khairul Hafiz Jantan was the previous national record holder with 10.18, clocked when he won gold at the Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Kuching in 2016.
Azeem’s achievement saw him receive several offers to further his studies and develop an athletics career in the US before choosing Auburn University.
He was previously linked to a move to Houston University to train under Lewis.
Caretaker Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Faizal Azumu also hoped Burrell will mould the Teluk Intan-born Azeem into a world class sprinter.
“You guys have just found a jewel. Azeem will not let you down. We believe and pray that our trust in you to shape him into a world champion is not misplaced,” tweeted Faizal.