Zharnel Hughes reflects on winning bronze in 100m at World Athletics Championships – ‘I’m on cloud nine’

Finishing third in Budapest saw Hughes win his first medal for an individual event at the World Athletics Championships – he has won silver and bronze in the 100m relay races in Doha 2019 and Eugene 2022.

Becoming the first British man to achieve a podium position in the World Athletics Championships 100m race in 20 years, Hughes was brimming with emotion.

“I am on cloud nine right now,” said Hughes. “I want to be here for a little bit more. This means a lot to me – it is just a stepping stone to greatness. I have the 200m to go again and I am looking forward to being on the podium once again.”

Hughes has struggled with injuries and suffered untimely false starts – including at the Tokyo Olympic final – but is enjoying the most successful year of his career to date, and told Radzi Chinyanganya and Iwan Thomas on Eurosport that his belief never wavered.

“I had my adversities, I had my injuries and I had my false starts, but I believed in myself. I knew I just needed to get stronger and I applied myself day in and day out.

“So far I have hardware around my neck which I am super grateful for.”

Hughes – talking to British Athletics – also thanked his team and fans back home too.

“Thank you to my team, thank you to my coach, thank you to Linford [Christie] round there as well, he gave me a talk,” he told British Athletics.

“This one’s for you guys back home and it means the world to me.”

Although he was delighted with his podium position, the 28-year-old sprinter showed no lack of ambition to aim higher, with an eye kept on Noah Lyles’ first-place finish.

“I honestly wanted a gold medal, but hey, leaving this championship with a medal around my neck I’m so grateful for.”

His 9.88s time was narrowly beaten by America’s Lyles and Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, respectively, in the gold and silver positions.

Hughes arrived buoyant after setting new national 100m and 200m records this season, and a chance to double his medal tally later this week is provided by the prospect of the men’s 200m.

“The 200m is my baby, I love the 200m,” added Hughes. “For me, I’m just going to go back now and recover, get some good sleep tonight and go again.”

Hughes joins Katarina Johnson-Thompson as the second British medal winner on Sunday after she won gold in the heptathlon.