Nigeria’s rising sprint star Konyinsola Ajayi has sparked excitement ahead of the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo with a cryptic message on social media. The 20-year-old, who will compete in the men’s 100m, posted on X: “Big bird in Japan” upon his arrival on Sunday.
Ajayi is one of 15 Nigerian athletes set to participate in the championships, which begin on Saturday, September 13. He will celebrate his 21st birthday a day into the competition.
The sprinter qualified for the World Championships at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he impressed by reaching the semi-finals. Earlier this year, he demonstrated his blistering pace with a series of outstanding performances. In April, Ajayi ran 9.96s (+1.9 m/s) at the Tom Jones Memorial in Gainesville, Florida, making him the latest Nigerian athlete to join the elite sub-10 seconds club. He followed that up with a personal best-equalling 9.92s to win the men’s 100m at the Meeting International Sotteville-lès-Rouen in France in June.
At the Nigeria National Trials in Lagos, Ajayi withdrew from the 100m final as a precautionary measure to avoid injury. Despite the setback, he remains Nigeria’s fastest man this year.
Speaking ahead of the championships, Ajayi dismissed concerns about the strong form of American sprinters. “I saw them running sub-10s, but it doesn’t bother me. It doesn’t matter what you run if I’m not there. When I’m there running with you, it matters, and you have to prove it again that you got this. The World Championships will be fun, just keep praying for us to be healthy,” he told reporters.
Ajayi will line up against formidable opponents, including reigning champion Noah Lyles, Letsile Tebogo, Kishane Thompson, Oblique Seville, and Akani Simbine, as the battle for the 100m crown promises to be one of the highlights in Tokyo.
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