Gemili: I’ll beat 10sec barrier

ADAM GEMILI thinks he can run sub-10sec in the Olympic 100 metres and is undaunted about running against the likes of defending champion Usain Bolt. Earlier this month, the 18-year-old from Dartford, in Kent, confirmed his status as the quickest teenager on the planet by claiming the 100m world junior title in Barcelona in a championship record time of 10.05sec. It meant he overtook Dwain Chambers as Britain’s fastest junior and is now the best prospect of becoming the nation’s first 100m Olympic finalist since Chambers finished fourth in Sydney 2000. Gemili, who is aiming to reach the final on August 5, said: ‘I’m just going there to enjoy myself. Hopefully, I can run my quickest time ever but the main thing is just to savour every moment of it. I know I’ll never get the opportunity to go to a home Olympics again. ‘A final is not out of the question. It’s very possible if I perform well and get the right circumstances. I’d like to make it to the semifinal at least and then hopefully do well there. ‘I’m getting closer and closer (to that 10-second barrier). It could potentially come at the Olympics. Obviously every sprinter wants to do it one day.’ Gemili said how at the start of the year he had been planning on watching the 100m on TV at home, adding: ‘I might have even been on holiday. The fact that I’m in it is unbelievable. ‘It’s been very overwhelming. It’s been very nice, everyone’s been really lovely. Some people will occasionally be, “Oh, are you that sprinter? Can we have a picture?” It’s nice people are familiar with you.’ Chambers is also targeting a place in the final and even believes a medal is not out of reach as ‘anything can happen’, despite admitting his form has been poor. The former drug cheat has not run quicker than 10.25sec in the past six months, but said: ‘I’d like to get into the final. Current form may show that I’m not in good shape, but physically and mentally I do feel in a position where I can go out there and perform.’