On his 21st birthday, Kanyinsola Ajayi has written his name in Nigerian athletics history by storming into the men’s 100m final at the Tokyo 2025 World Championships.
The rising sprint star clocked 9.93 seconds in the semifinals, finishing second behind world and Olympic champion Noah Lyles, to seal automatic qualification.
With this feat, Ajayi becomes the first Nigerian man since Olusoji Fasuba in 2007 to contest a World Championships 100m final.
Ajayi had already turned heads in the heats, blazing to a stunning 9.88 seconds, which not only marked a personal best but also became the fastest time ever recorded by a Nigerian sprinter at the World Championships.
That performance established him as one of the most exciting talents in global sprinting and confirmed that his rise is no fluke.
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From personal best to historic final
Despite the pressure of the semifinals, Ajayi held his nerve and showed maturity beyond his years. His 9.93s effort, coming just a fraction behind Lyles’ 9.92s, was enough to guarantee him a place in the final.
The achievement revived memories of Fasuba’s fourth-place finish in Osaka 2007, as Nigerian fans now dare to dream of a first-ever men’s 100m medal at the World Championships.
Moreover, Ajayi’s journey has been one of steady progression. As an Auburn University standout, he has balanced collegiate competition with international aspirations, and his Tokyo performance demonstrates he can mix it with the very best on the biggest stage. The Nigerian speedster has seamlessly translated raw promise into world-class results.
Nigeria’s new sprint hope
With a place in the final secured, Ajayi now stands on the brink of further history. Matching or even surpassing Fasuba’s legacy would make him the first Nigerian to win a men’s 100m medal at this level.
The final promises to be both a defining race in his young career and a potentially groundbreaking moment for Nigerian athletics.
Tags: Kanyinsola Ajayi, Tokyo 2025, World Championships, Osaka 2007, Olusoji Fasuba.
