Hunt's hot run is sparked by the 'fire inside'

AMY Hunt insisted world 200m silver was “only the beginning” after years of determination not to let her talent “go to waste” finally paid off in Tokyo.

- By RACHEL STEINBERG

The 23-year-old is well-acquainted with the craft of weaving a satisfying story, having taken the unusual decision to train for the track alongside completing an English degree at the University of Cambridge.

Balancing the books with athletics was challenging enough, even before Hunt learned she needed surgery on a complete tendon rupture three years ago, a recovery that required help from her family just to get out of the shower.

“It's been a massive roller-coaster and I've just trusted myself the whole time,” said Hunt, whose expression was a mixture of delight and disbelief as she crossed the line in 22.14 seconds, behind the United States’ Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and four-hundredths-of-a-second faster than Jamaican bronze medal list Shericka Jackson.

“I’ve known I had it within me and that failure was never an option. I knew I would make it. Even before this race, I visualised it so many times and to actually finally do it is incredibly surreal.