Olympic legend Adam Gemili returns to Chelsea in new Academy role | OneFootball

Former British Olympic sprinter Adam Gemili has begun working with the academy of Chelsea after announcing his retirement from athletics.

Gemili confirmed earlier this week that he has ended a professional sprinting career that lasted around 15 years.

The 32-year-old enjoyed a distinguished athletics career that included becoming European champion in the 200 metres.

He also won a gold medal in the 4x100m relay at the World Athletics Championships.

During his career Gemili competed against some of the most famous sprinters of his generation.

Among those rivals were Usain Bolt, Justin Gatlin, Yohan Blake and Noah Lyles.

His time in athletics was also affected by a number of injuries that interrupted his progress.

Following his retirement announcement, Gemili revealed that he has returned to Chelsea in a new capacity.

Chelsea sources confirmed that the former athlete has been working informally with the club’s academy players at their Cobham training centre.

Gemili is assisting the academy’s player care department on a casual basis.

The role involves sharing his experiences as an elite athlete and helping young footballers develop the mentality required for high-level sport.

Gemili’s return to Chelsea carries added significance because he previously spent several years in the club’s youth system.

He was once considered a promising footballer within Chelsea’s academy before deciding to focus on athletics.

Reflecting on his background, Gemili explained that his journey into elite sport began with humble beginnings.

“I’m just a normal guy from Dartford,” he said. “We didn’t grow up with a lot but we worked hard and I committed to my sport.”

The former sprinter hopes that his story can inspire young players currently coming through the academy.

“I just hope one or two of them take some inspiration from that,” Gemili said. “They might realise that if they cannot succeed in one path they can still find another way.”

Gemili acknowledged that the path to becoming a professional footballer is extremely competitive.

Many academy players will not ultimately reach the highest level of the game.

However, he believes the lessons learned through elite sport can still shape successful futures.

“For a lot of these players they won’t make it to the top of the Premier League,” he said. “But if I can teach them the skills I learned, maybe one or two will find success somewhere else.”

Gemili also revealed plans to launch his own training academy.

The project will aim to help young athletes from multiple sports improve their speed and athletic development.

“Knowledge is power,” Gemili said. “If I can teach these kids what I have learned during my career, I will be very happy.”