Nigeria’s sprint sensation, Kanyinsola Ajayi, has described his 2026 campaign as a season of growth, major victories, and valuable lessons after ending his breakthrough year with a narrow fourth-place finish at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest.
Ajayi clocked 9.93 seconds in the men’s 100-metre final, the same official time as American Ronnie Baker, who was awarded bronze after the photo finish. Kenny Bednarek won gold in 9.85, while Oblique Seville took silver in 9.90.
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Despite missing the podium by just 0.004 seconds, Ajayi, speaking to Making of Champions in Budapest, was satisfied with how he fought through a demanding season.
“It was a good fight. I put in all my effort, I put in my best.”
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The Nigerian admitted his start was not perfect, but he was proud of his effort.
“I didn’t get my block clearance, but that was a little bit decent. I tried my best. I’m going to take it like that.”
NCAA success set the tone
Ajayi began the season by completing a sprint double at the NCAA Championships, winning the indoor 60m title in 6.45 seconds before claiming the outdoor 100m crown in Eugene.
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He clocked a wind-assisted 9.72 seconds (+2.2m/s) in the outdoor final. Although the mark was not legal for record purposes, it underlined his rapid progression.
For Ajayi, the NCAA triumph was one of the biggest highlights of his year.
“Winning the NCAA was the best, also the London Diamond League”
Breaking Fasuba’s Record
The NCAA success was followed by another historic achievement when Ajayi ran 9.84 seconds to break Olusoji Fasuba’s Nigerian 100m record of 9.85.
He subsequently equalled the mark several times and recorded two major victories over reigning world champion Oblique Seville; first at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene and again at the London Diamond League. Ajayi also broke and then twice equalled the Nigerian record during the season.
The London victory stood out for him.
“The second was the London Diamond League. That was the best.”
Commonwealth Bronze
Ajayi entered the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as one of the favourites following his victories over Seville.
Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme won gold in a Games record 9.83 seconds, Australia’s Lachlan Kennedy took silver in 9.85, while Ajayi finished third in 9.90 to claim bronze.
Although the medal made him Nigeria’s first men’s 100m Commonwealth Games medallist in 20 years, Ajayi had arrived in Glasgow targeting gold.
The experience, however, gave him another taste of the pressure of major championship competition.
New life as professional
After three seasons at Auburn University, Ajayi left collegiate athletics and turned professional, signing a partnership with Adidas in August.
The transition has also exposed him to a new lifestyle, particularly the demands of travelling from one competition to another.
“It’s the first time I’m travelling around the world. It’s so funny, travelling around the world, getting to see people.”
From NCAA competition to the Diamond League, Commonwealth Games and ultimately Budapest, Ajayi repeatedly raced against some of the world’s best sprinters, and he believes those experiences have accelerated his development.
“They helped me a lot, coming from the NCAA, going into the Diamond League, Commonwealth, coming back to the circuit again.”
Budapest Heartbreak
Ajayi reached the 100-metre final in Budapest after running 10.00 seconds in his semifinal before producing 9.93 in the final.
The result left him fourth, just 0.004 seconds behind Baker, but it also marked his 17th sub-10-second performance of the season, underlining the remarkable consistency of his campaign.
The 100-metre field itself featured the reigning world, African, and Commonwealth champions, the European champion, and the reigning NCAA champion.
Ajayi also finished as the fastest African in the final and earned $25,000 for fourth place.
Follow the plan
With the season finally over, Ajayi’s immediate priority is recovery. He believes discipline and sticking to his programme were central to getting through such a long campaign.
“If you follow the plan, if you keep your plan, everything is just going to work out for you.”
Now, he wants to return home, rest and enjoy some time away from competition before turning his attention to 2027.
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“Right now I’m going back home to rest, enjoy myself.”
Ajayi eyes the 200m
The Nigerian has also hinted at a potentially exciting change to his programme, revealing that he is considering taking the 200m more seriously.
Ajayi already has a personal best of 20.93 seconds, but some have questioned whether he can become a genuine two-event sprinter.
He is confident those doubts will eventually disappear.
“Many people are doubting, like I can’t run the 200, but yeah, those who don’t see this yet, they’re going to be surprised, I promise.”
Season that changed everything
Ajayi’s 2026 campaign was about far more than his fourth-place finish in Budapest.
He became an NCAA champion, a Nigerian record-holder, and an Adidas professional; defeated the world champion twice; won Commonwealth bronze; and established himself as a consistent sub-10-second sprinter on the global circuit.
He also made history by reaching the podium at the Diamond League Final in Brussels.
Budapest may have ended with disappointment, but missing bronze by four thousandths of a second only reinforced how close Ajayi now is to the very top.
The inaugural Ultimate Championship featured a record $10 million prize fund, with $150,000 available to individual event winners.
Now comes the next challenge: recovering, resetting and finding another level in 2027.
And if Ajayi follows through with his plans for the 200m, Nigeria could have an even more versatile sprint star to watch in the next Olympic cycle.
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