In the Stockton-on-Tees hall of fame , Richard Kilty is sandwiched between John Walker , the inventor of the matchstick , and George Stephenson , who envisaged the first passenger steam train . There can be no doubt which hometown boy is delivering the most high-octane thrills these days , but even the most fanciful residents in the North East market town could not have predicted the success Kilty now enjoys back in 2013 . After missing out on the London Olympics with a torn hamstring he had no coach , no Lottery funding , had quit athletics and was about to join the Army . Kilty ( second left ) was close to quitting athletics after missing out on the London Olympics in 2012 . He had a torn hamstring , no coach , no Lottery funding and was planning to join the army . The Teeside Tornado took 60m gold for Great Britain at the European Indoor Championships in Prague . Kilty was not a stranger to hard times . As a 13-year-old , for seven months he shared one room in a homeless hostel with his parents and four siblings after the family ran into financial difficulties . Citing his ‘ mental strength ’ , he decided to give athletics one last roll of the dice . It paid off with a 60m gold medal at the World Indoor Championships in Sopot last year , where he surprised everyone - including the bookmakers who had him at 33-1 - by beating Jamaican Nesta Carter in the final . Boosted by his extra income , Kilty has rejoined the Linford Christie training group of which he was a part in the run-up to London 2012 . Asked after his golden 6.51sec season ’ s-best run on Sunday what Christie had brought to the party , Kilty did a double gun salute . After his victory Kilty gave the event mascot , a mole called Krtek , a relieved hug . Stockton-on-Tees high-achievers ( from left ) : John Walker , the inventor of the matchstick , and George Stephenson , the man who envisaged the first passenger steam train . Kilty ( third right ) clocked 6.51 seconds in a commanding win and is now targeting 100m outdoor glory . ‘ I ’ m stronger . I ’ ve got a bit more bicep there , ’ he said , ‘ We didn ’ t necessarily train for the indoors but if you saw the semi-final I dropped my arms and could have run about 6.45sec. ’ He doubts whether even the Americans and Jamaicans , including Usain Bolt , could beat him over the distance . ‘ Kim Collins beat me a couple of times but a lot of people beat me early season . They don ’ t count . In a championship I think it would be very difficult. ’ He has now set his sights on breaking that hallowed 100m 10-second barrier outdoors . ‘ Some people think I ’ m a spring runner but you ’ ve only seen me on the scene for 12 months now . ‘ If you watched the race today and saw the way I ran away from the field you can see what is going to happen outdoors . ’
Richard Kilty won the European Indoor Championships 60m gold medal . He backed up his victory at last year 's World Championships in Sopot . The world record holder is American Justin Gatlin, who ran a personal best of 9.58 seconds to win the 100m final on Sunday.