Guernsey's Fastest Man Chadwick Retires Due to Injury

Sprinter Joe Chadwick, renowned as "Guernsey's fastest man," has retired from athletics at the age of 24 due to injury. Chadwick's career highlights include winning the 100m final at the 2019 Island Games in Gibraltar at just 17 years old, securing one of his three gold medals at the event. He became the first sprinter from Guernsey to win this race since 2005 with a time of 10.82 seconds.

Further cementing his legacy, Chadwick represented Guernsey at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. There, he achieved a 10.60-second 100m time, which remains the island's record. He also claimed a 100m silver medal on home soil during the 2023 Island Games.

Despite his passion for the sport, Chadwick reluctantly decided to retire after a series of consultations with his physiotherapist. Following surgery in August, the increasing likelihood of further injury aggravation made the decision inevitable. He expressed that the sport itself felt like it was telling him it was time to stop, even though he wished to continue competing.

Chadwick also spoke about the exceptional support system for athletes in Guernsey. He noted that the resources provided by Guernsey Athletics, orchestrated by development officer Tom Druce, far exceed what many high-performance athletes receive in the UK. He expressed optimism for the future of athletics on the island and welcomed the prospect of his 100m record being broken.