Wales' fastest man chasing medals and memories in Paris

Jeremiah Azu is the only Welshman to have run 100 metres in under 10 seconds

'The fastest runner doesn't always win the race.' Ecclesiastes 9:11.

It is a quote from the Bible that Jeremiah Azu holds especially close to his heart at the moment.

Not that he is a slow runner. In fact, he is the only Welshman in history to have run 100 metres in less than 10 seconds.

The 23-year-old from Cardiff ran 9.97 in May to take him inside the top 10 in the all-time British rankings.

His reward - after finishing second at the UK Athletics Championships - is a first Olympic Games in Paris, and he is relishing the opportunity.

"It's my first senior global championships individually so I'm looking forward to it," Azu said.

"Hopefully I can come out with lifetime memories and something tangible as well."

A sprinter's rise to the top is rarely smooth. There are always niggles and often disappointments.

Azu has had his fair share since becoming the shock men’s 100m UK champion in 2022.

Even this season, he has run good times to earn himself selection for major events, only for injury to force him to withdraw from both the World Indoor Athletics Championships in March and the European Athletics Championships in May.

But for this young man, the struggle is all part of the story.

"Philippians 4:13 says, 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me'," continued Azu.

"Having these things in my mind - and I’m living by them - there's no need for me to get caught up in the struggles.

"It’s all a journey and all a process. It's part of how He [God] has written it to be."

Azu grew up in a Christian household in Rumney, just outside Cardiff. His family lead a weekly service and Azu is heavily involved.

After securing his place at the Olympic Games on a Saturday evening in Manchester, he was back singing in church with his family in Cardiff on the Sunday morning.

He credits his family for giving him what he needs to get to where he is today.

"In athletics you really need certain skills to go far," he explained to BBC Sport Wales.

"[My family] have instilled discipline in me, they've instilled humility in me. I think these two things can take you really far in athletics.

"We all have talent to run fast but when you're on the line and the pressure's there, it's the ones you're doing it for. It's the why. And I think I have a stronger why than most people of why I want to win.

"Having them behind me is all the reason why it's extra special."

The Azu family - who moved to Wales from Ghana, via the Netherlands - will be out in force in Paris to cheer him on on the biggest stage.

Azu says he will arrive at the Games "fast and healthy" and he is ready to do all he can to reach the Olympic final in the men's 100m.

It is here he mentioned the quote from Ecclesiastes, which he is reading a lot at the moment.

"It says 'the fastest runner doesn't always win the race'," he said. "So anything can happen.

"When you set your heart to something and truly believe it, anything can definitely happen."

Jeremiah Azu will be the first Welshman to run the 100m at an Olympics since Ron Jones in 1968

Azu believes there is also a strong medal chance in the men’s 4x100m relay - helped by the rise of 21-year-old Louie Hinchliffe, who beat Azu to the title at the British Championships and ran sub-10 seconds again in the London Diamond League just before the Games.

After Azu and Hinchliffe had combined well over the first two legs in London, the relay team failed to pass the baton between Richard Kilty and Reece Prescod when in a winning position - but it could prove to be the perfect lesson before Paris.

When Azu lines up on the start line, he is not thinking of anyone else other than God.

"You can get caught up in the tension and nerves," he said, "but I'm stood there and I know I've been called to do this.

"It's not a question of not having nerves - it's a question of dealing with them. Because nerves are good - they help you run fast.

"But in those moments, I know I'm meant to be here. Let me just have fun with it."

If the Games follow his plan, this could be the most fun Azu has had yet.