Kanyinsola Ajayi has made history as the first Nigerian male 100m athlete to secure a podium finish in the Diamond League final.
The 21-year-old sprinter achieved the feat in Brussels, Belgium, after finishing third in the men’s 100m final with a time of 9.97 seconds.
Ajayi finished behind Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme, who claimed second place, while Jamaica’s Oblique Seville won the race and Diamond League trophy after clocking 9.90 seconds.
The podium finish caps an impressive debut season for Ajayi, who only turned professional earlier this year. His performance in Brussels also earned him a $10,000 cash prize for finishing third in the prestigious final.
The Nigerian sprinter has now secured his second podium finish at a major international meeting during his first professional season. He had previously finished third at the Commonwealth Games.
Ajayi’s achievement is particularly notable given the quality of the field he faced in Brussels. The final featured athletes with major international titles, including world and Commonwealth champions.
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The Nigerian had defeated Seville twice during the Diamond League season, but the Jamaican produced a dominant performance in the final to overturn those previous results and claim the top prize.
Despite entering the Diamond League final as a wildcard invitee, Ajayi delivered another sub-10-second performance, recording the 16th sub-10s race of his career.
His consistency over the 100m has further established him as one of Nigeria’s leading sprint prospects. Ajayi also holds the Nigerian national record in the event.
The Brussels result provides another significant milestone in what has been a breakthrough year for the young sprinter. Competing against some of the world’s leading 100m athletes, he showed that he can perform at the highest level.
With the season now over, Ajayi is expected to return to the United States to continue his studies while beginning preparations for the 2027 athletics season.
His historic Diamond League podium finish gives Nigeria another significant achievement on the international athletics stage and adds to the growing profile of one of the country’s brightest young sprinters.
Daily Trust
