Sprinter Kayinsola Ajayi delivered one of Nigeria’s standout performances at the 2025 World Athletics Championships, becoming the first Nigerian man to reach the 100 m final in 18 years.
Ajayi’s Tokyo run was defined by blistering starts and powerful acceleration phases that saw him progress through heats and semifinals, overcoming a stacked field of international elite sprinters. Though he finished sixth in the final, where sub‑10 second speeds set the tone, his achievement signified a major resurgence in Nigerian sprinting.
Ajayi credited his performance to disciplined training, mental preparation, and the support of fans back home:
“This is for every Nigerian who believes we can compete with the best.”
