British Athletics has announced that Zharnel Hughes, renowned as Britain’s fastest sprinter in both the 100m and 200m categories, will not be participating in the upcoming UK Athletics Championships in Manchester due to a medical exemption. Despite his absence, the 28-year-old athlete remains in contention for a discretionary place on Team GB for the Paris Olympics later this summer.
The UK Athletics Championships serve as the primary selection event for the Paris Olympic Games across all disciplines except the 10,000m. Hughes, who recently suffered a hamstring injury during a competition in Jamaica, is currently recuperating and will be unable to compete in Manchester.
“Zharnel Hughes has been granted a medical exemption from competing in this weekend’s UK Athletics Championship in Manchester as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury,” British Athletics confirmed in a statement.
Originally from Anguilla, Hughes made headlines last year by breaking a 30-year British 200m record in London with a remarkable time of 19.73 seconds. He further solidified his position by setting a new British 100m record and clinching a bronze medal at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
Due to his injury, Hughes also missed out on participating in the recent European Athletics Championships held in Rome. His absence from the upcoming Olympic trials is a setback, but British Athletics remains optimistic about his potential return to competition.
“We look forward to seeing Zharnel back on the track during a significant summer of athletics,” British Athletics expressed on social media, hinting at Hughes’ possible comeback.
