The newly-crowned Nigeria men’s 100m champion, Kanyinsola Ajayi, is setting his sights on breaking the sub-10-second barrier in the event at the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympic Games, according to reports from Punch Sports Extra.
Ajayi qualified for the Olympics based on ranking and now stands as one of Nigeria’s representatives in the men’s 100m, alongside Favour Ashe and Godson Brume. However, Brume’s participation is uncertain due to an injury.
At the Luzern Athletics Meet in Switzerland in July, Ajayi clocked a season’s best and personal record of 10.00s to secure victory in the men’s 100m, a time he is determined to better.
Reflecting on his Olympic debut, Ajayi expressed his gratitude, stating, “It feels great making my first Olympics because this is what most athletes are looking forward to on the biggest stage. Since I’ve started athletics, I’ve been dreaming of becoming an Olympian. It’s just God’s grace to make the Olympics as the 24th fastest man in the world.”
He added, “I believe in myself, and the words of my coach keep coming to my head. He would tell me to keep up my discipline, and I believe I can achieve the sub-10s here in Paris. I’m just trusting God and myself.”
In his first season in the NCAA, Ajayi’s accomplishments included clinching the South-Eastern Conference (SEC) 60m title and finishing third at the NCAA Championships.
The 19-year-old became the third Tiger SEC Champion in the last four years in the men’s 60m dash, seizing gold with a time of 6.60s at the Randal Tyson Track Centre in February.