THE SUMMER before going off to university is a memorable one for most 18-year-olds and Adam Gemili will have plenty to look back on.

The youngster from Dartford did the town proud despite a hiccup in the 4 x 100m relay heat on Friday night.

Great Britain finished second to eventual champions Jamaica, but was disqualified because the baton handover between Daniel Talbot to Adam on the last leg was not completed in time.

It was the fifth time in six major championships where Team GB has had a baton error and, frustratingly, the quartet’s time would have been fast enough to secure a bronze medal.

On Saturday, Adam tweeted: “Very disappointed about yesterday but will learn a lot from it for the future. Thanks to everyone for your support and kind words.”

The Games appear to have been a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the former Dartford Grammar Schoolboy, who only dedicated himself to sprinting in January.

His Twitter feed has been a-buzz with pictures alongside the likes of England football manager Roy Hodgson, 800m World Record holder David Rudisha and four-time American gold medallist Allyson Felix.

His mum, Sacha, told News Shopper: “He has absolutely loved it. It is an experience he will never, ever forget.

She added “It was a shame [about the relay] but he achieved third in a semi final and he has only just come in there. Everybody is very proud of him.”

Mrs Gemili said her son’s next goal is one more familiar to a lot of 18-year-olds – university.

She added: “I am extremely proud of what he has achieved in such a short space of time. Now he needs to knuckle down and work hard and hopefully Rio here we come.”

His club, Blackheath and Bromley Harriers, is proud too.

The Harriers’ British League manager Pat Calnan described Adam as a “very good club man” and said he could even run for them at Norman Park in Bromley on Saturday.

Mr Calnan said: “He did very well. He is a credit to himself and the club and his country.

“It is a big event to take part in and I thought he conducted himself very well indeed – impeccable.

“It was a shame about the relay but even then I thought he still conducted himself well. We are all very proud of him.

“There is definitely more to come from him, it is only the start. There is no reason why he can’t carry on for years and be the British number one in 100m and 200m.”

Among the proud supporters was Crayford Arrows football coach, Bernie Hammill, who coached Adam from the age of six to nine.

He said: “We have been watching his progress and we know he will do exceptionally well.

“He had a talent for sprinting from very early on. He could beat the parents, the talent was always there.

“He was a really nice lad and his mum and dad were very dedicated to their children from an early age.

“He is a very nice boy, you wouldn’t mind having him for a son. He was very hard-working.”