Annabelle Fasuba, a 13-year-old British-Nigerian sprinter, is making waves in athletics with race times that have not been recorded in her age category in more than three decades.
Based in Plymouth, the teenage sensation recently recorded a remarkable 200-metre sprint time of 24.02 seconds — the fastest by a British girl under 15 since 1989.
Her 100-metre personal best of 11.79 seconds also ranks her among the top five under-15 female sprinters in UK history.
“She’s only 13 and just turning 14, so for her to post those kinds of times is incredible,” said her coach, Neal Edwards, who also noted that Annabelle has only been in serious training for a little over a year.
“We haven’t even pushed her with intense training yet — it’s been more about refining her technique,” he added.
Annabelle’s standout performances are drawing attention not only for their speed but also for the legacy that runs in her blood.
Her father, Olusoji Fasuba, was once Africa’s fastest man with a 100m time of 9.85 seconds and has represented Nigeria at the Olympics, winning a bronze medal.
He is also a former World Indoor Champion and Commonwealth Games silver medallist.
Her mother, Ngozi, competed in the 4x400m relay at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
With such athletic pedigree, her rise on the track is hardly unexpected. “My husband was good, I was good… so Annabelle being fast isn’t really surprising,” said her mother, proudly acknowledging the family’s sporting genes.
Now serving in the Royal Navy, Olusoji Fasuba expressed high hopes for his daughter’s future. “At her age, I think she’s bolder than I was,” he said.
“I believe she can achieve even more than I did.”
Annabelle has her eyes set on the biggest sporting stage in the world. “I want to compete in the Olympics, running the 100 and 200 metres — and hopefully win them,” she said.
