Kayinsola Ajayi Makes History as First Nigerian Man to Win Diamond League 100m Final Medal

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Nigeria’s rising sprint star Kayinsola Ajayi has made history by becoming the first Nigerian man to finish on the podium in the men’s 100 metres at a Wanda Diamond League Final.

The 21-year-old produced a superb performance on Friday, September 4, 2026, clocking 9.97 seconds to claim bronze at the Allianz Memorial Van Damme in Brussels, Belgium.

Jamaica’s world champion Oblique Seville won the race in 9.90 seconds, while Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme finished second in 9.93 seconds. The race was run with a legal +0.1 metres-per-second tailwind.

Ajayi’s historic bronze caps a remarkable breakthrough season that has established him among the leading young sprinters in the world.

Earlier in the year, the Nigerian shattered Olusoji Fasuba’s long-standing national 100m record with a stunning 9.84 seconds. He subsequently equalled the mark twice, including during Diamond League victories in Eugene and London, where he defeated Seville on both occasions.

The Auburn University standout also enjoyed a spectacular collegiate campaign, winning the NCAA indoor 60m title and the outdoor 100m championship. His NCAA outdoor triumph came in a wind-assisted 9.72 seconds.

He also secured a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, further underlining his rapid rise on the international stage.

Despite entering the Diamond League Final as a global wildcard, Ajayi held his own against a field packed with elite sprinters and delivered when it mattered most.

His third-place finish earned him a $10,000 prize and, more significantly, a place in Nigerian athletics history as the country’s first male 100m podium finisher at a Diamond League Final.

The opening night of the two-day Diamond League Final also produced several impressive performances.

Botswana’s Collen Kebinatshipi stormed to victory in the men’s 400m in a Diamond League record of 43.40 seconds, a time that moved him joint-fifth on the world all-time list.

Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi continued his dominance of the men’s 800m, winning in 1:41.80 to secure his fourth consecutive Diamond League title in the event.

In the men’s 1500m, Australia’s Cameron Myers prevailed in a closely contested race, stopping the clock at 3:30.14.

For Nigeria, however, the spotlight belonged firmly to Ajayi.

His rapid transformation from a promising collegiate sprinter at Auburn into a national record-holder and Diamond League medallist has injected fresh optimism into Nigerian sprinting.

With his combination of youth, speed and major international experience, Ajayi now appears poised for an even bigger 2027 season as he targets further success on the global athletics circuit.

The Diamond League Final continues in Brussels on Saturday, with more titles and records expected to be contested.