A few months back, Zharnel Hughes was nowhere close to resuming his track and field endeavors as a chronic injury scare himdered his fitness level. That ultimately affected his mental peace. Talking about that, the British sprinter responded to the BBC, “Sometimes I felt as if I was putting a little bit too much pressure on myself and I wasn’t really enjoying the moments.” Having starry maiden Olympic dreams glimmering in his eyes, half the battle is won as he usurped big names to clinch his long-overdue victory.

But here, Zharnel Hughes is now back with a flourish! After a clean sweep in the World Athletics Relays in the Bahamas, the British captain now overpowered American sprinters like Fred Kerley and Christian Coleman in the Jamaican Invitational. So what did work for Zharnel during this timeline? 

The responsibility Zharnel Hughes embraces on track and field 

As per Zharnel Hughes, his confidence was not deterred by his chronic injury. But it was his belief that took the bullet. So, coming into the Paris Olympics season, he garnered the needed support system when the national team trusted him with the badge of leadership. The result was visible as at the Jamaican Invitational, the 28-year-old put on a show and registered his season-best timing of 19.96 seconds in 200m, stopping almost 0.80 seconds behind Usain Bolt’s world record. Furthermore, in the Bahamas as well, the 4-time European champion intimidated the American superpowers with a blistering pace. 

Despite being hesitant initially, Zharnel Hughes took up the reins of the 4x100m British relay contingent in the Bahamas. However, in the final, the British men’s relay team dealt with the fifth position. But, Hughes gifted the track and field fans a memorable anchoring leg, finishing in 8.97 seconds, 0.09 seconds compared to Noah Lyles. Again, the baton of leadership worked wonders for him. The British track and field authority backed that fact. 

The Paris Olympics event is a stone’s throw away

Darren Campbell, the British chief of relay and track and field affairs, spoke at length to the media in his support for the British 100m and 200m record holder. With that, he showered praises on Zharnel Hughes. “I have been really pleased to see Zharnel progress over the last year becoming a global individual medallist. His conduct as an individual and a team athlete is so focused making him the ideal team captain who leads by example,” the veteran demonstrated. For the British skipper, it is the remembrance of responsibility. 

In his admittance, Zharnel Hughes added, “When you put on the vest, it’s like a superpower”. But it is not about putting too much pressure on himself. Previously, he used to jot down his goals on the papers beforehand. But, in this Olympic season, he has abstained from such practice. “I am just taking it day by day, step by step, getting the progress done according to what my coach and I are working on,” Zharnel added to that perspective. 

Ultimately, the track and field star is trying to shake off all those defeats from the Tokyo Olympics or from Noah Lyles in the 100m event in Budapest. Rather, he is now trying to embrace his additional responsibility and thoroughly “looking forward to making them [supporters] even more proud this season.” GB is in safe hands this Paris Olympics.