British hurdler Seamus Derbyshire has already won hearts before stepping onto the World Championships track. The 25-year-old became a TikTok sensation earlier this summer when he struck playful poses at the Diamond League meet in London. Channeling Glinda with a dramatic hair toss, Derbyshire blew kisses and formed a heart for the cameras—moves that quickly made the rounds online.
He didn’t anticipate the response. “When my housemate and I woke up the next day, there was so much love for it,” Derbyshire told BBC Sport. “It never crossed my mind that people would connect with it the way they did.”
Bouncing Back From Setbacks
Behind the lighthearted viral moment is an athlete who nearly walked away from the sport. Struggles with mental health derailed Derbyshire’s Olympic and European aspirations in 2024, leaving him unsure whether he belonged on the track.
Instead of stepping back, he pushed forward. In June, he clocked a personal best of 48.47 seconds in Prague, making him the fifth-fastest British man ever in the 400-meter hurdles. That performance punched his ticket to the World Championships in Tokyo.
“This is the first year in five years I’ve finished every race I’ve started,” Derbyshire said. “It feels like such a big accomplishment and makes me comfortable being myself again.”
Redefining Role Models in Sport
For Derbyshire, competing openly as a gay man is just as important as hitting record times. He hopes his presence on the world stage will show future athletes that authenticity and success can go hand in hand.
“A lot of my gay inspiration came from pop culture, listening to Kylie Minogue or Gwen Stefani with my mum,” Derbyshire said. “I didn’t really see role models in sport who were like me. Maybe I can be that person for someone else.”
Messages from fans suggest he already is. Supporters have told him they wished they’d had someone like him to look up to when they were younger. Parents have also reached out, saying his visibility provides a positive example for their children.
As he prepares for Tokyo, Derbyshire’s ambitions extend beyond medals. He’s racing not just for the finish line, but for a future where young queer athletes see themselves reflected on the track.
