Zharnel Hughes (born 13 July 1995) is an Anguilla-born Britishsprinter who specialises in the100 metres and200 metres. Born and raised in theBritish Overseas Territory ofAnguilla, he has competed internationally for Great Britain in the Olympic Games,World Athletics andEuropean Athletics events, and for England at theCommonwealth Games, since 2015.[2] A doubleCommonwealth Games (2018,2022), doubleEuropean Championships (2018,2022) gold medalist as part of the4 × 100 metres relay, Hughes has twice been European champion individually; over100 metres in 2018, and200 metres in 2022. In 2023, he broke both British sprint records, before winning his first global individual medal, a bronze in the100 metres at the 2023 World championships.
Hughes had significant success in his youth representing Anguilla, winning at theCARIFTA Games,Central American and Caribbean Junior Championships in Athletics and thePan American Junior Athletics Championships. He holds theAnguillian national records in both 100 m and 200 m.
Following his transfer of allegiance[3] Hughes placed fifth in the 200 m final at the2015 World Championships in Athletics. Injury affected his 2016 and 2017 seasons and he was eliminated in the rounds-stage at the2016 European Athletics Championships and2017 World Championships in Athletics. He returned to fitness in 2018 and won the4 × 100 metres relay title at the2018 Commonwealth Games with England. Hughes crossed the line first in the final of the 200 metres at the Games, but was disqualified for impeding an athlete in the neighbouring lane.
He won in both the 100 metres and4 × 100 metres relay at the2018 European Championships, and in both the 200 metres and4 × 100 metres relay at the2022 European Championships representingGreat Britain, and once more won in the 4 × 100 metres relay at the2022 Commonwealth Games, again representingEngland. In 2019 he achieved his first global senior medal, a silver in the 4 × 100 metre relay at the2019 World Athletics Championships. He achieved a second medal, a bronze, in the same event at the2022 World Athletics Championships.
He was also part of the Great Britain team that finished second to Italy in the final of the 4 × 100 metres relay at the2020 Summer Olympics. On 18 February 2022 it was announced that Hughes and his teammatesCJ Ujah,Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake andRichard Kilty would be stripped of their4 × 100 metres relay2020 Summer Olympics second place afterCourt of Arbitration for Sport found Ujah guilty of a doping violation.[4] Hughes won the bronze medal in the same event at the2024 Summer Olympics, along with Mitchell-Blake and Kilty, in addition to debutantsJeremiah Azu andLouie Hinchliffe.[5]
Hughes is the British record holder over 100 m and 200 m as well, with 9.83 s and 19.73 s respectively. He is equally the second fastest European in history over each of these distances, behind (two Italians)Marcell Jacobs (9.80s) andPietro Mennea (19.72s) respectively.[6]
Hughes trains with theRacers Track Club inJamaica under coachGlen Mills, with clubmates includingUsain Bolt,Yohan Blake andDelano Williams.[7]
Hughes was born inThe Valley, Anguilla,[8] where his mother worked as a housekeeper and his father as a taxi driver.[9] His family is Jamaican on his mother's side and several of his relatives did sprinting at a low level. Hughes recognised his talent for the sport at the age of ten, when he won several races at a local schoolsports day where he ran for Orealia Kelly Primary School (formerly Stoney Ground Primary). He made his first international appearance for Anguilla at the2010 CARIFTA Games at the age of fourteen, placing eighth in the100 metres final. The following year he improved to sixth at the2011 CARIFTA Games and made the final at the2011 Commonwealth Youth Games, having his first runs under 11 seconds that year.[10]
Hughes established himself in regional age category competitions in 2012, setting 100 m and200 metres championship records at the2012 Leeward Islands Junior Championships in Athletics, taking 100 m bronze at the2012 CARIFTA Games,[11] then a 100 m silver and 200 m gold at the2012 Central American and Caribbean Junior Championships in Athletics. He was selected to represent Anguilla at the2012 World Junior Championships in Athletics (his global debut) and was a semi-finalist in the short sprints, as well as setting anational record of 20.90 seconds. He ended that year with a personal best of 10.42 seconds for the 100 m.[10]
He was awarded a scholarship in 2012 to attend the IAAF's Regional High Performance Training Centre in Jamaica and began to study atKingston College. Soon after he had the opportunity to train with world record holderUsain Bolt.[12] Hughes continued to progress in the 2013 season, winning 100 m gold at both the2013 CARIFTA Games and the2013 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships. He also made his first appearance in senior international competition at the2013 Central American and Caribbean Championships in Athletics, reaching the final and recording a personal best of 10.23 seconds in the heats.[10]
At the 2014Inter-Secondary Schools Boys and Girls Championships he brokeYohan Blake's meet record for the 100 m with a time of 10.12 (Blake had earlier challenged training mate Hughes, saying he could not beat his time). He also recorded a new best of 20.32 seconds in the 200 m semi-finals but withdrew from the final due to an injury.[13] This time ranked him as the number one under-20 athlete in the world that year.[14] He focused on the 200 m the rest of that year, winning the2014 Central American and Caribbean Junior Championships in Athletics in a championship record of 20.33, but falling short
Following his successes in 2014, the question of his eligibility for the2016 Summer Olympics arose, asAnguilla was not a nation recognised by theInternational Olympic Committee.[9] As a resident of aBritish Overseas Territories, Hughes was eligible to compete forTeam GB and, following in the footsteps of fellow AnguillianShara Proctor, he ultimately confirmed in June 2015 that he would represent Great Britain in allWorld Athletics events. Hughes said "I have always known that if I was to run at the Olympics it would be in a British vest and that is how I have always dreamt it would be."[15] The move received a mixed reaction from British athletes, withRichard Kilty saying that several national team members were unhappy with non-British-born athletes transferring to the team (thus increasing competition for funding).[16] Former British sprintersDarren Campbell andDaniel Caines supported Hughes, noting that Britain was the home nation for people from its colonies.[17]
He began his 2015 season with a new national record of 20.15 seconds for the 200 m in March, placing second toAnaso Jobodwana at the Cayman Invitational.[18] Hughes made hisDiamond League debut in June at theadidas Grand Prix in New York, where he was commended for almost beating world champion Usain Bolt.[19] His first British national title win came at the2015 British Athletics Championships at the start of July, gaining him selection for the2015 World Championships in Athletics.[20] Wins over 200 m at theLondon Grand Prix andAthletissima meets moved him to the top of the Diamond League rankings.[21] His new best of 20.05 seconds at the London meet also made him Europe's top ranked sprinter.[22] He improved further in the200 metres World Championships final in Beijing, recording a time of 20.02 seconds to place fifth while his clubmate Usain Bolt defended his world title.[23]
Hughes missed the2016 Olympic Games in Rio due to a tear in his right knee ligament, sustained in a fall earlier in the season.[24] He competed at the2016 British Athletics Championships against doctor's warnings, but could only manage fourth. He also attempted to persevere at the2016 European Athletics Championships, but dropped out of the heats and brought his season to a close. His injury rehabilitation in the 2017 season was slow, and he continued to experience pain while running, while affected his performances that year.[25] Competing with the British4 × 100 metres relay quartet, the team failed to finish at the2017 IAAF World Relays, but set a championship record of 38.08 seconds to win at the2017 European Team Championships. Hughes placed fourth in the 200 m at theAdidas Boost Boston Games and2017 British Athletics Championships. On the2017 IAAF Diamond League circuit he was fifth at the London Grand Prix then had a season's best of 20.22 seconds for third at theRabat Meeting.[10] His injuries left him drained in the rounds at the2017 World Championships in Athletics and he ended up seventh in his semi-final.[25] His performances improved towards the end of the year, with third place in the 100 m at theBritish Athletics Grand Prix in Birmingham and sixth at theMemorial Van Damme 200 m.[10]
In the200 m at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Hughes – competing forEngland – placed first in the final, but was disqualified for impeding the runner-up,Jereem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago.[26][27] With his teammates Hughes won in the 4 × 100 metres relay, where he ran the second leg alongsideReuben Arthur,Richard Kilty andHarry Aikines-Aryeetey for England.[28][29]
Hughes proved himself among the world's best 100 m runners in the 2018 season. He improved his best to 10.01 seconds in February, ran awind-assisted 9.99 to win at the Boston Games (beating Yohan Blake andTyson Gay),[30] then set a world-leading time of 9.91 seconds in June, becoming the 129th person to break the10-second barrier. This raised him to second on the all-time British rankings behindLinford Christie, and equal withJames Dasaolu.[31]
In 2021, Hughes reached the 100 m final at the delayed2020 Summer Olympics, but was disqualified for a false start.[32][33] Hughes and the British team placed second in the 4 × 100 relay, but were disqualified when teammateCJ Ujah was found guilty of doping.[34][35]
At the2022 European Athletics Championships inMunich, Germany, Hughes won gold in the 200 m[36] and 4 × 100 m relay[37][38] along with silver in the 100 m.[39]
In June 2023 he brokeLinford Christie's British 100 m record when he recorded a time of 9.83 seconds inNew York at theNew York Grand Prix.[40][41][42][43][44]
In July 2023, at theBritish Athletics Championships, Hughes ran 19.77, faster thanJohn Regis's national 200 metre record, but with a slightly too strong following wind (2.4 m/s) for record purposes, although his winning margin of 0.66 seconds was the largest winning margin for the men's 200 metres at these championships for over thirty years.[45] A few days later, he ran a legal 19.73 at the London Diamond League, setting a new UK record and European sea-level record.[46][47][48][49] By breaking 20 seconds, he became the third Briton and the 54th man in history to break 10 seconds for the 100 metres and 20 seconds for the 200 metres.
The following month, Hughes won a bronze medal in the 100 m at the2023 World Athletics Championships inBudapest, Hungary.[50][51]
Hughes was given a medical exemption to miss to2024 British Athletics Championships after injuring his hamstring at a meeting in Jamaica.[52][53] He was selected to compete in the 100 m, 200 m and 4 × 100 m relay at the2024 Summer Olympics.[54][55] Hughes went out in the 100 metres semi-finals at the Games in Paris[56] and withdrew from the 200 metres before the heats.[57] He won a bronze medal in the 4x100 metres relay.[58]
In December 2024, it was announced that Hughes had signed up for the inaugural season of theMichael Johnson foundedGrand Slam Track.[59][60]
On 2 August 2025, Hughes won the 100m final at the2025 UK Athletics Championships in a time of 9.94 seconds[61][62] and won the 200 metres the following day to claim his fifth British outdoor title.
Hughes is the first non-USA and non-Jamaican man to break 9.85 s for 100 metres and 19.85 s for 200 metres, a feat he achieved in July 2023 ten days after turning 28.
His 200 m time is a European sea-level record. |
Times given in seconds and senior world rank in parentheses[10] |
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| Grand Slam Track results[63] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slam | Race group | Event | Pl. | Time | Prize money |
| 2025 Kingston Slam | Short sprints | 100 m | 3rd | 10.13 | US$50,000 |
| 200 m | 2nd | 20.37 | |||
| 2025 Miami Slam | Short sprints | 100 m | 4th | 9.87 | US$30,000 |
| 200 m | 2nd | 20.13 | |||
| 2025 Philadelphia Slam | Short sprints | 200 m | 2nd | 20.50 | US$50,000 |
| 100 m | 3rd | 10.05 | |||
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Time | Wind (m/s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Representing Anguilla | |||||||
| 2010 | CARIFTA Games (U17) | George Town, Cayman Islands | 8th | 100 m | 11.14 | +0.6 | |
| 2011 | CARIFTA Games (U17) | Montego Bay, Jamaica | 6th | 100 m | 10.96 | −0.4 | |
| Commonwealth Youth Games | Douglas, Isle of Man | 8th | 100 m | 10.92w | +2.9 | ||
| 2012 | CARIFTA Games (U20) | Hamilton, Bermuda | 3rd | 100 m | 10.41w | +5.7 | |
| 4th | 200 m | 21.26 | +0.5 | ||||
| Leeward Islands Junior Championships (U20) | Tortola, British Virgin Islands | 1st | 100 m | 10.45CR | −0.1 | ||
| 1st | 200 m | 21.26CR | −2.0 | ||||
| 3rd | 4 × 100 m relay | 45.91 | — | ||||
| CAC Junior Championships (U18) | San Salvador, El Salvador | 2nd | 100 m | 10.46 | −0.6 | ||
| 1st | 200 m | 20.98 | −1.5 | ||||
| World Junior Championships | Barcelona, Spain | 15th (sf) | 100 m | 10.55 | −0.5 | ||
| 7th (h) | 200 m | 20.90 | — | Did not start in the semifinal | |||
| 2013 | CARIFTA Games (U20) | Nassau, Bahamas | 1st | 100 m | 10.44 | −0.4 | |
| 4th | 200 m | 20.77w | +3.4 | ||||
| CAC Championships | Morelia, Mexico | 7th | 100 m | 10.25 | +0.5 | ||
| Pan American Junior Championships | Medellín, Colombia | 1st | 100 m | 10.31 | +1.8 | ||
| 2014 | CAC Junior Championships (U20) | Morelia, Mexico | 1st | 200 m | 20.33CR | +0.8 | |
| World Junior Championships | Eugene, United States | 5th | 200 m | 20.73w | +2.3 | ||
Representing Great Britain & England | |||||||
| 2015 | World Championships | Beijing, China | 5th | 200 m | 20.02 | −0.1 | |
| 2016 | European Championships | Amsterdam, Netherlands | 18th (h) | 200 m | 21.21 | −1.1 | |
| 2017 | IAAF World Relays | Nassau, Bahamas | 3rd (h) | 4 × 100 m relay | 38.32 | — | Did not finish in the final |
| European Team Championships | Lille, France | 1st | 4 × 100 m relay | 38.08CR | — | ||
| World Championships | London, United Kingdom | 24th (sf) | 200 m | 20.85 | −0.3 | ||
| 2018 | Commonwealth Games | Gold Coast, Australia | DQ | 200 m | 20.12 | +0.9 | Disqualified underR163.2 |
| 1st | 4 × 100 m relay | 38.13 | — | ||||
| European Championships | Berlin, Germany | 1st | 100 m | 9.95 | CR | ||
| 1st | 4 × 100 m relay | 37.81 | — | ||||
| 2019 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar | 2nd | 4 × 100 m relay | 37.36 | — | |
| 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | DQ | 100 m | |||
| DQ | 4 × 100 m relay | 37.51 | — | ||||
| 2022 | World Championships | Eugene, United States | 12th (sf) | 100 m | 10.13 | +0.1 | |
| 3rd | 4 × 100 m relay | 37.83 | — | ||||
| European Championships | Munich, Germany | 2nd | 100 m | 9.99 | +0.1 | ||
| 1st | 200 m | 20.07 | — | ||||
| 1st | 4 × 100 m relay | 37.67CR | — | ||||
| 2023 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | 3rd | 100 m | 9.88 | 0.0 | |
| 4th | 200 m | 20.02 | –0.2 | ||||
| 4th | 4 × 100 m relay | 37.80 | — | ||||
| 2024 | Olympic Games | Paris, France | 14th (sf) | 100 m | 10.01 | +0.5 | |
| 3rd | 4 × 100 m relay | 37.61 | — | ||||
| 2025 | World Championships | Tokyo, Japan | 9th (sf) | 100 m | 10.03 | +0.2 | |
| 5th | 200 m | 19.78 | 0.0 | ||||
As of 15 September 2024, Hughes holds the following track records for 100 metres and 200 metres.
| Location | Time | Windspeed m/s | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baie-Mahault | 10.03 | –0.9 | 18/05/2019 |
| Location | Time | Windspeed m/s | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | 19.77 | +2.3 | 09/07/2023 |
European Athletics Championships champions in men's100 metres | |
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European Athletics Championships champions in men's200 metres | |
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European Athletics Championships champions in men's4 × 100 metres relay | |
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Commonwealth Games champions in men's4 × 100 metres relay | |
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| 4 × 110 yards (1930–1966) |
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| 4 × 100 metres (1970–present) |
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