Kanyinsola Ajayi has become the first Nigerian 100m men’s athlete to secure a podium finish in the Diamond League final.
The 21-year-old sprinter who turned professional this year finished third in the final race in Brussels in 9.97s.
Ajayi finished behind Emmanuel Eseme of Cameroon who took second, while Jamaica’s Oblique Seville took the win and Diamond League trophy in 9.90s.
Ajayi takes home a $10,000 cash prize for finishing third in the event’s final.
It is also his second podium finish in a major meeting in his debut season, after a similar third-place finish in the Commonwealth Games.
The NCAA champion had defeated Seville twice during the Diamond League season, but the experienced world champion rose to the occasion in Brussels to obliterate the field and claim the golden prize.
Ajayi, despite entering the final as a wildcard invitee, achieved his 16th career sub-10s performance despite competing against a field that includes both the world and commonwealth champions.
Ajayi, Nigeria’s record 100m record holder, will return to the US following the end of the season to continue his studies and prepare for the 2027 season.
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