Get to Know Louie Hinchliffe: British Olympic Sprinter

Becoming an NCAA champion within a short period, the young athlete from Sheffield, England, Louie Hinchliffe is setting the mark in the sport world and it promises to be an exciting one.

The speed, the determination, and the talent have shot him to the forefront and he was able to make a remarkable success in no time. While being under the training of Olympic gold medallist Carl Lewis, he won the 2024 NCAA Championships 100-meter title with a time of 9.95 seconds for the University of Houston Cougars. This made him the sixth-fastest Briton in history. That month, he was crowned British champion as he won the 100m title at the British Athletics Championships. He was later selected for his first Olympic Games, though he missed the final, Hinchliffe was part of the Great Britain team that brought in the bronze in the men’s 4 x 100-metre relay in Paris 2024.

Early life

Louie Hinchliffe was born in Sheffield, England, and comes from a multicultural background. His father, Stuart, is from Rotherham, and his mother, Leilana, is from the Philippines. Early in his life, Hinchliffe showed talent in both athletics and golf. He was particularly successful as a junior golfer, achieving a single-figure handicap, which indicated a strong proficiency in the sport. However, at the age of 17, he decided to pursue athletics more seriously, shifting his focus to sprinting.​

During his teenage years, Hinchliffe was able to balance these two sports but he decided to pursue sprinting, which led him to train under nine-time Olympic champion Carl Lewis at the University of Houston. a mentorship that helped him greatly in his career, further honing his skills, and making him a world-class sprinter​.

 Louie Hinchliffe Career

He was part of Great Britain at the European Athletics U20 Championships. He was able to make it to the semi-finals and that was the beginning of his entry into the international field. In 2022, he continues to compete both at the domestic and international level while also competing for Washington State University. He won the English national 100m in 2022. In 2023, his participation in the European U23 Championships helped him gain more experience on the international stage.

The turning point in his career was when he joined the University of Houston and training under Carl Lewis, he achieved several key milestones. Representing the University of Arkansas, he consistently dominated the sprint events. He became the first European sprinter to win the prestigious NCAA 100m title, clocking 9.95 seconds. Hinchliffe won his first British title in the 100m at the British Athletics Championships (2024) in Manchester. He was selected to represent Team GB for the Paris 2024 Olympics. He reached the 100m semi-finals and won a bronze medal in the 4x100m relay. All these further demonstrate his hard work and how far he has been able to maintain his status as one of the top sprinters in the world.

Ongoing Success and Future Prospects

The athlete is still at the prime stage and there is no doubt that he has more to offer. He recently announced his decision to become a professional after winning an Olympic medal in Paris this summer. The plan is to forgo his education at the University of Houston and pursue sprinting professionally.

He wrote on his Instagram page: “What a season it’s been – I’ve experienced the highest of highs in my first year at the University of Houston,” “I’ve become an NCAA champion, a National Champion, and an Olympic semi-finalist all whilst living out my dream as a Cougar.

“With that being said, after speaking with my family, I have decided to forego the remainder of my collegiate eligibility and embark on a career as a professional athlete.”

He went further to thank his coaches; “coach [Will] Blackburn and coach [Carl] Lewis for your belief and support of me. I hope that someday I can give back as much as you both have given to me.”

As he continues to compete at the highest level, fans and experts eagerly anticipate his future achievements.

Awards and Achievements

Louie Hinchliffe’s rapid rise in athletics has led to several notable achievements in his sprinting career:

1. NCAA 100m Champion (2024): Hinchliffe became the first European to win the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 100m, clocking 9.95 seconds.
2. British Athletics Championships 100m Winner (2024): Shortly after his NCAA triumph, he won the 100m title at the British Athletics Championships, making him the first sprinter to win both the NCAA and British titles in the same season.
3. Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Although he narrowly missed the 100m final at the Olympics, Hinchliffe helped Team GB win a bronze medal in the 4x100m relay, marking his first senior international medal.
4. Personal Bests: In 2024, Hinchliffe set a wind-legal personal best of 10.00 seconds and recorded a wind-assisted time of 9.84 seconds, showing his potential to compete at the highest level

From breaking records on the college track to representing Great Britain on the global stage, Hinchliffe has consistently proven his talent and potential.