Teenage Sprint Sensation Annabelle Fasuba Aims for Olympic Glory

At just 13 years old, Annabelle Fasuba is already making waves in British athletics, setting records that have stood for decades and eyeing a future at the Olympic Games.

A Rising Star in British Sprinting

Living and training in Plymouth, Annabelle recently clocked an astonishing 24.02 seconds in the 200m — the fastest time recorded by a British girl aged 15 or under since 1989. Only two athletes, Olympic 400m bronze medallist Katharine Merry and Diane Smith, have run faster at that age in the past 36 years.

Her 100m personal best of 11.79 seconds is equally impressive, ranking as the fifth fastest ever for a British runner under 15 and just a fraction shy of the qualifying standard for the last Commonwealth Games.

Coach Neal Edwards highlights her rapid progress: “She only started training just over 12 months ago. We’ve focused mainly on technique rather than intense training, and yet her times are phenomenal for her age.”

A Family Legacy of Speed

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Annabelle’s remarkable talent is no surprise given her athletic lineage. Her father, Olusoji Fasuba, was the 2008 World Indoor 60m champion, won Olympic bronze in the 4x100m relay at Athens 2004, and took silver at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. He held the African 100m record with a blistering 9.85 seconds until it was broken in 2021.

Her mother, Ngozi Fasuba, also competed internationally, running in the 4x400m relay at the Athens Olympics. Olusoji, who joined the Royal Navy in 2011, praises his daughter’s dedication: “At her age, her commitment and bravery in training surpass what I did. She runs hard and smiles through it all.”

Eyes on the Olympic Prize

Annabelle first realized her speed when she was in primary school, often leaving her peers behind during sports days. Now, she dreams big. “I want to run the 100m and 200m at the Olympics and hopefully win,” she says confidently.

The family’s sprinting prowess doesn’t stop with Annabelle. Her younger sister, still in primary school, is already breaking records and showing signs of following in her sister’s footsteps.

Olusoji shares his hopes: “The dream is to see both my daughters in a relay team together one day. Watching the younger one break records already tells me she’s got that same fire.”

Looking Ahead

With natural talent, a supportive family, and a coach focused on building her technique, Annabelle Fasuba is poised to become one of Britain’s brightest sprinting stars. As she approaches her 14th birthday, the athletics world will be watching closely as she chases her Olympic dreams.

For more updates on Annabelle Fasuba’s progress and British athletics, stay tuned to our sports section.