During 1991 and 1992 Darren became the most successful British athlete at junior level, winning four Gold and two Silver Medals at International Championships. At the European Junior Championships at Thessalonika in 1991, Darren became the first Briton to win the sprint double (100m and 200m) and also won Gold in the 4 x 100m relay. The following year, competing in Seoul at the World Junior Championships he was runner-up in the 100m and the 200m and anchored the relay team to victory.

Darren made his debut on the senior circuit at the age of 18 as a member of the 4 x 100m squad for the Stuttgart World Championships in 1993. Darren spent the winter of 1993/94 training in Australia with Linford Christie and Colin Jackson. His full introduction to senior international athletics followed, however it was unfortunately interrupted by injury. Darren’s other love is football, and having recovered from his injury he decided to play football. After two successful seasons with Newport FC and Weymouth FC, Darren decided the time was right to return to athletics.

In 1995 following another stint of winter training with Linford Christie, this time in Florida, Darren made his breakthrough on the World circuit, running a personal best time of 10.17 in Bratislava at the end of May ’96. Following a disappointing performance at the Olympic Trials in Birmingham in 1996, missing out on an individual place in the 100m. Darren’s misfortune continued in Atlanta, where he was prevented from finishing the relay in the 4 x 100m, as the baton was dropped before it reached him. However, due to his consistent times throughout the Grand Prix circuit, Darren earned himself a place in the Grand Prix Final in Milan, the only European in the line up.