'Retirement reception has been quite emotional'

Adam Gemili was the 2014 European champion over 200m and took silver in the 100m at the Commonwealth Games that summer [Getty Images] Former European 200m champion Adam Gemili says the reception to his retirement from athletics has been "quite emotional" after originally wanting to stay silent about his career decision. The Kent star said: "I sort of always wanted to disappear quietly into the night and people will go 'oh, what happened to that sprinter from Dartford? '" But Gemili, who moved into a role at Premier League club Chelsea as a part-time speed coach, said he announced his retirement after being convinced by people around him.

"The reception I had from people, the support and love and messages, the stories that people have shared, it's been quite emotional really, but happy," he said. Gemili now works with Chelsea's 13 and 14-year-olds once a week to help them improve their speed on the pitch. "I've been doing sport at the top level for my whole adult life really, so I've got a lot that I can teach and pass on, and if one or two of them can take even a nugget that will improve themselves on the pitch then I've done my job," he said.

Joining Chelsea was a full-circle moment for Gemili who spent eight years at the club's academy as a child. He then joined Dagenham & Redbridge, which is where he made the switch to athletics. Gemili says in his retirement he has been enjoying "exploring the actual hidden parts of Kent, which I haven't got to do for so many years because I've been away.

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