British Athletics named Divine Iheme to its 2026/27 Olympic Futures programme on 29 October, alongside other youth and junior international medallists. The selection places the European sprint champion in a development pathway aimed at senior international competition.
New sprint and field-event intake
Iheme appears on the governing body's newly selected athlete list with fellow sprinters Sophie Thomas and Bronson Hearn-Smith. The announcement also names hammer thrower Wyatt Larkins, high jumper Samuel James, triple jumper Tito Odunaike, miler Freddie Rowe and long jumper Daniel Emegbor. British Athletics identifies their recent international performances as a basis for the selections.
The programme is delivered with the Home Country Athletics Federations and supported by Nike. It provides tailored guidance and experiences to athletes and coaches who have shown potential for future Olympic and world-level success. British Athletics describes progression towards its senior World Class Programme as the longer-term aim, rather than announcing any automatic senior-team places.
Dan Wagner, Head of Performance Pathways at British Athletics, said the new athletes' performances had shown “significant potential for future international success”. Wagner also described support for coaches as part of the programme, matching the announcement's emphasis on development beyond the competition calendar.
International results behind the selections
World Athletics reported on 19 July that Iheme won the European youth men's 100m title in 10.29 in Rieti. This time also set a championship record. James also set a championship record in the high jump. Along with this, Hearn-Smith won the title in the 200m. With these results, the 2026/27 intake has personal best performances and achievements at European youth level competitions. SportsRivo performed a comparison of the recently released British Athletics’ Futures list with the list of athletes that make up the senior and junior relay squads. Iheme was on both lists, and Thomas was on the newer list and the older relay list. This suggests that both athletes are on the individual development support list and the relay support list.
What the selections change
- Iheme and the other new athletes enter a programme offering tailored guidance and experiences directed towards senior international competition.
- The relay pathway adds camps, competition and performance experiences with British Athletics relay and senior coaches for the named sprint athletes.
- Coaches are included in the development support, reflecting the federation's stated aim of helping athletes move towards the World Class Programme.
Next relay selection window
British Athletics says another Futures Relay selection round will follow the indoor season, with the European age-group championships in July as the next named target. The current announcement lists selected athletes and development support; it does not name a senior championship team.
Source: British Athletics