With the World Athletic Championships just three months away, legends and up-and-coming youngsters alike are looking to make a big mark in Tokyo. But one speedster is done being just a threat. No, he wants to conquer. Bored with just chasing medals, he is chasing a moment that slipped through his fingers in 2021. Back then, it was heartbreak. Now, it’s fuel. After years of steady growth, setbacks, and behind-the-scenes work, the US track star is positioning himself as the man to shake up American dominance. And he’s dead serious about rewriting his story.

So, who are we talking about? Well, it is none other than Zharnel Hughes. Behind every explosive stride on the track is a disciplined, relentless off-track routine. Hughes has transformed his approach. Not just as an athlete, but as a man with greater responsibilities. He admits he still doesn’t like ice baths, but he’s forcing himself through them now. “I’m doing them more now to keep my body clear,” Hughes said to Athletics Weekly.

“I’m ensuring that my recovery is on point, always making sure I’m eating properly, getting proper sleep, and getting regular treatment.” These adjustments aren’t minor. They’re a statement of intent from someone who knows what it takes and what it costs. But the real shift? It came with fatherhood. Sprinting has always been a job, but now it’s a mission. Hughes looks at his son and sees the reason behind every early morning and every painful session.

The Tokyo Olympics left a scar. The false start in the 100m final haunted him. But instead of being defined by that moment, Hughes is using it as motivation. “It’s long gone,” he said of the misstep. “But it would be amazing to rewrite history from there. I’m looking forward to just going over there, competing well, and getting through the rounds and hopefully doing well in the final,” Hughes added.

He’s not just showing up to run. He wants a podium finish. “Obviously, I want to medal. That’s the main goal. But I want to lower my times, too. I want to be on the podium. That’s what I’m working for,” Hughes chimed in. And surely, he knows the path won’t be easy. The Americans are stacked. But Hughes has been lurking close behind for too long, and now, with a cleaner, smarter system around him from nutrition training, he believes it’s time.

And once the World Championships are done, Hughes already has his next target. The European Championships on home turf in Birmingham. The Alexander Stadium holds good memories. Commonwealth medals and thunderous cheers. “Last time I ran there was the Commonwealth Games, and the support was just top-tier,” Hughes recalled.

“Anytime you run in the UK, you can expect that kind of support… hopefully we can perform for the fans.” The mixed 4x100m relay?  Well, he’s watching, but he’s not ready to jump in yet. That day may come. But right now, Hughes is laser-focused. On gold, on redemption, and on making sure the next time the world watches, they remember his name for all the right reasons. And now, Hughes is trying to forget his past failures.

Zharnel Hughes’ 100m nightmares continue as Olympic and Grand Slam Track woes mount

For Zharnel Hughes, sprinting’s grandest stages continue to be filled with misfires and heartbreak. Once hailed as Great Britain’s next 100m beacon, Hughes now carries a growing weight of missed opportunities. The latest blow was delivered not in Paris but in Philadelphia. At the Grand Slam Track stop on May 31, Hughes found himself chasing rather than leading.

 In a fast 200m final, he finished second to American Kenny Bednarek’s commanding 19.95, clocking a 20.50, a performance that was solid yet forgettable in a season where British sprinting had hoped for fireworks. And just days later, in Paris, the Olympic storyline unraveled once again. Despite a 9.97 in the semifinals, Hughes failed to make the 100m final, mirroring the sting of Tokyo 2020.

Only this time without the disqualification, but also with redemption. Hughes has long fought to rewrite the narrative from that Tokyo heartbreak, where a false start shattered his Olympic dream. “[It was] just last month. It’s not the easiest thing to come back from,” Hughes said about his recent hamstring injury, admitting race-sharpness was missing.

Zharnel added, “I had a grade two [tear] on the outside of the hamstring, so not getting me enough races… was my issue.” That lack of competitive edge may have made the difference between yet another semifinal exit and a chance to finally silence the ghosts. But instead, Hughes remains a paradox. Undeniably talented, heartbreakingly inconsistent, with his peak moments still overshadowed by a pattern of faltering when it counts most.