Regardless, the impact was immediate. Her words resonated far beyond the track, inspiring sporty 16- and 17-year-olds to reach for Oxbridge. “There are so many girls messaging me every single day,” she says. “I’ll always say, just give me a call, because the interview is unlike anything else you’ll ever do.”
Hunt has already helped a few girls fulfil their dreams of getting into Cambridge, and she hopes to create a track-and-field equivalent of Stormzy’s Merky scholarships, which fund tuition and living costs for Black students at Cambridge. For now, though, her eyes are firmly on the track — she’s determined to become “an icon” in sprinting over the next decade.
The accidental icon
Six months on, Hunt hasn’t stopped dishing out that signature blend of wit and wisdom. More recently, she spoke to The Guardian about the abuse she’s faced as a rising star in the public eye.
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“Everyone’s entitled to their own opinions,” Hunt explained. “So in the least cocky way possible, my opinion is the only one that matters. I don’t really care what someone online has to say about my starts.”
Traditionally, athletes — especially women — are encouraged to stay quiet, demure and modest. Boasting or showing ambition is often frowned upon. Hunt, however, is a refreshing departure from that mould.
“All of the sprinting greats aren’t afraid to put themselves in positions where they’re maybe not the favourite to win,” she says. “I would love to step up to the 400m. I look at people like Allyson Felix, who excelled across the board, dominating every event she entered, including the 4x100m and 4x400m relays. That versatility, that ambition — that’s what I want to emulate.”
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