When 21-year-old British sprinter Louie Hinchliffe sought out nine-time Olympic gold medallist Carl Lewis as his coach, he knew precisely what he was doing.
He did so with the ambition of maximising his potential, having moved to America after totally having fun with his 12 months as a college brisker within the UK – and admittedly not taking coaching too significantly.
Neither he nor Lewis – a coach on the College of Houston for the previous decade and with 17 international titles to his title – actually anticipated what has unfolded within the quick interval since their first cellphone name final August.
Hinchliffe had not damaged the 10-second barrier at that time. He had not but made historical past by profitable the US’ collegiate 100m title, as achieved by Lewis himself whereas at Houston in 1981.
But, as surreal as all this nonetheless feels, targets should be tailored with Paris 2024 quick approaching.
“If Louie goes to the Olympic Video games and wins two gold medals, I am going to remind him that he wants seven extra,” jokes Lewis, talking to BBC Sport.
“Belief me, I’ll be sure that he stays humble.”
Hinchliffe is in protected arms, as he knew he could be.
The thrill surrounding the Sheffield-born athlete’s exceptional progress to date this 12 months is comprehensible.
Hinchliffe made headlines when he recorded the second-fastest all-condition 100m in British historical past with a wind-assisted 9.84 seconds in Could.
Then, in Oregon on Friday, he adopted that up by changing into the primary European athlete to win the boys’s 100m title on the Nationwide Collegiate Athletics Affiliation (NCAA) Championships.
The time? A blistering 9.95secs – his first authorized run beneath 10 seconds putting him sixth on the British all-time checklist within the largest race of his life to date.
“I actually did not count on all of this to occur,” says Hinchliffe, nonetheless shocked a day after his historic triumph.
“I knew I had an opportunity however I wasn’t one of many favourites. It is surreal. I am over the moon however I am additionally relieved it is executed.
“Final 12 months I completed final in my semi-final. To get into the ultimate after which win is loopy.
“Being in such a high-pressure setting introduced the most effective out of me. Every part simply got here collectively.”
And it has all come collectively not solely in an Olympic 12 months, however in the identical month because the British Olympic trials and 7 weeks earlier than the Video games.
