Adam Gemili

Praise has been pouring in for a Barking and Dagenham college student who has become the fastest British junior of all time.

Adam Gemili, 18, who attends Barking and Dagenham College, smashed the 100 metres record by racing an incredible 10.05 seconds in the World Junior Championships in Barcelona this week.

It beats sprinting legend Dwain Chambers’ British junior record of 10.06sec in 1997.

The feat is especially astonishing because Adam only took up the sport professionally seven months ago.

He could now find himself racing against world number one Usain Bolt during this summer’s 100m showdown.

Senie Emmanuel, Adam’s tutor at the Dagenham Road college, where he is studying for an extended diploma in sport, described him as having “an amazing natural ability for running”.

He added: “We are all very proud of Adam.”

Cllr Liam Smith, leader of the council said: “As one of the host boroughs, our residents should be rightly proud of having someone with a local connection representing Team GB at the games.

“His current form is remarkable and his success is thoroughly deserved.”

Sporty Adam only switched full-time to athletics from football in January.

Before that, he was a trainee at Premier League club Chelsea and moved to League Two Dagenham & Redbridge.