Olympic champion believes UEL student is leading light in British sprinting

East London Advertiser: Jamaica's Usain Bolt (right) stands next to England's silver medalists (left to right) Danny Talbot, Richard Kilty, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Adam Gemili following the men's 4x100m Relay at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow (pic: John Giles/PA)Jamaica's Usain Bolt (right) stands next to England's silver medalists (left to right) Danny Talbot, Richard Kilty, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Adam Gemili following the men's 4x100m Relay at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow (pic: John Giles/PA) (Image: PA Wire/Press Association Images)

University of East London student Adam Gemili is at the forefront of a British sprinting revolution according to former Olympic champion Darren Campbell.

It was a stellar 2014 for Britain’s sprinters with Gemili no exception, the 21-year-old picking up European 200m and 4x100m gold as well as double silver in the 100m and 4x100m at the Commonwealth Games.

East London Advertiser: England's Adam Gemili (left) celebrates with his silver medal from the men's 100m at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, alongside gold medal winner Kemar Bailey-Cole and bronze medalist Nickel Ashmeade of Jamaica (pic: Martin Rickett/PA)England's Adam Gemili (left) celebrates with his silver medal from the men's 100m at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, alongside gold medal winner Kemar Bailey-Cole and bronze medalist Nickel Ashmeade of Jamaica (pic: Martin Rickett/PA) (Image: PA Wire/Press Association Images)

And Campbell, who won 4x100m relay gold at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, believes the strength in depth of the current crop is akin the best the country has had for many years.

“The good thing with the current crop is that they are all shapes and sizes. You have Adam who is like a bullet and can do 100 or 200,” said Campbell,

“If you look back at my era you have Richard Kilty who is a bit like Jason Gardener whereas I’m a bit more like Adam and can do both.

“It’s about going to the major championships and going to win a medal, that’s how I viewed it. But the mindsets are right and there is good rivalry and they will continue to drive each other forward which is crucial.

While European and Commonwealth medals were aplenty for the Brits in 2014 the next 18 months represent a whole new challenge.

With the World Championships in Beijing on the horizon this summer and the Olympics next summer, Campbell wants the new breed to produce on the biggest stage.

“They showed the maturity that was beyond their years in Euros and that was really pleasing to see,” he added.

“There was a maturity beyond their years and the good thing is there’s not just one or two, there is a healthy group and they should push each other on moving forward.

“It’s great to see the guys and girls running so well. Zurich was amazing and it was a pleasure to be there and watch such positive performances.

“They need to step up to that next level and they need to be thinking I need to make the finals of the worlds as a bare minimum.

“Once you are in that final anything can happen so they have to be thinking finals and they all have to be in that mindset.”

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