Ajayi Makes History, Becomes First Nigerian Podium Finisher in 100m Diamond League
Nigerian sprint rising star, Kanyinsola Ajayi yesterday finished in third place in 100m men’s event at the Diamond League finals in Brussels. The 21-year-old finished in 9.97 seconds to claim
Nigerian sprinter Kanyinsola Ajayi made history by becoming the first-ever Nigerian to achieve a podium finish in the men's 100m event at the Diamond League finals in Brussels. At the age of 21, Ajayi finished third in a time of 9.97 seconds, behind Jamaica's Oblique Seville, who won the race in 9.90 seconds, and Cameroon's Emmanuel Eseme, who secured second place in 9.93 seconds.
This remarkable achievement marked the culmination of an exceptional season for Ajayi, who set a new personal best of 9.84 seconds, breaking Olusoji Fasuba's 20-year-old Nigerian record. Ajayi's success extended to the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, where he won a bronze medal in the 100m event. Early in the year, Ajayi also claimed victory in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship in both the men's 60m indoor and 100m outdoor, placing himself among the fastest sprinters in the world, alongside Usain Bolt, Tyson Gay, Yohan Blake, Obadele Thompson, and Andre De Grasse.
The 21-year-old sprinter is anticipated to return to the United States following the conclusion of the season to pursue further studies and prepare for the upcoming 2027 season.
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