For Amlan Borgohain, the national record holder of the 200m race, it took a lot more than physical prowess to become one of the fastest men in the nation. Surely he was blessed with a lithe, long-legged stature, and grew up in a family where sport was considered just as important as education.  Yet, such advantages didn't give him the headstart one would expect; he is a late bloomer, and wouldn't call athletics his calling till he turned 21. In a sport where early specialisation is a key ingredient of success, starting this late might bring a lot of self-doubt. But Borgohain looks at it differently. "You never know, since I started late my career will be longer. I can go on till 32-35," he says. He used to participate in national meets but never considered doing it professionally till he met James Hillier, the legendary coach working with Reliance Foundation. "When a person as big as Hillier saw the potential in me, it became my duty to fulfil it," quips Borgohain, who also held the record for 100m until Manikanta Hoblidhar surpassed him last year.

Hillier has had a profound impact on Borgohain's career, admits Borgohain. "When you get instructions from experts in their respective fields, I don't have to think but just follow them. Our coach's philosophy is to train with high intensity. There's theory of him that to run a 20-second race I don't have to run a five-minute jog daily. We focus more on strength and speed," he quips. Apart from Hillier, Borgohain also had unflinching support from his elder brother, whose own footballing career could never take off because of a lack of guidance. "He made sure that I represented India and won medals, rather than settling for jobs and all. He still guides me, and his experience helps me stay focused," explains Borgohain.

Last year, Borgohain clinched pole position in both 100m and 200m races at the Flanders Cup 2023 athletics, but he failed to live up to expectations at the Asian Games, clocking 20.98s in the 200m race. "It was a mixed year for me," he admits before anyone does. It was the year when he couldn't surpass his personal best, but this professional setback pales in comparison to the grief of losing his mother. "It was very hard for me, but seeing the bigger picture helped me in boosting my morale. Sprinting makes me happy. It's fine if a hundred people are not watching me run, I will run for only a couple of them," he says.

Once he is on the racetrack, every concern disappears. He lives in the moment, enjoys the race, and loves the crowd and hype rather than letting them intimidate him. "All I think is of staying in my lane, and giving my best," he says. "It's all about body language. I present myself as if I have already won the race. I walk like that, I convince myself that I am the best in the field, and I think of all the hard yards I put in training."

The preparation to improve the ranking and subsequently gain entry into the Paris Olympics is in full swing. There's a sense of honesty when Borgohain talks about the state of sprinting in this country. He admits that winning gold in the Olympics is a far-fetched dream, but him putting his best in the international arena will surely be an enriching sight for the promising athletes. "I want to create an environment where people can think about sprinting culture. I can't win a gold medal. We're very far from securing an Olympics gold, but I am constantly improving and can raise the bar that future athletes will aim to surpass," says Borgohain.

When he's not busy with athletics, Borgohain spends his time reading books, editing videos, and playing chess or games on his newly acquired PlayStation. Beaming with pride, he tells his Elo rating of around 2200 in chess. "Athletics is a lonely sport, and you need to do your things outside the practice and event," he says.

It took him six years to win his first international medal, but never at any point, he felt lost. He remains hopeful of bouncing back and reclaiming his national record in 100m. "Sprinting is not hard, training is. You have to stay calm and trust the process," concludes Boroghain.