Kayinsola Ajayi is a Nigerian sprinter and one of the fastest-rising names in men’s 100m athletics. Born in Lagos, he has progressed from Nigerian youth competitions to the Olympic Games, World Championships, NCAA titles and the top tier of global sprinting.
As of September 1, 2026, Ajayi is ranked No. 4 in the world in the men’s 100m by World Athletics. He is also preparing to represent Nigeria at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest from September 11 to 13, 2026.
At only 21, his career is still developing. However, his achievements already include an NCAA 100m title, an NCAA 60m title, Commonwealth Games bronze and a World Championships final appearance.
Who Is Kayinsola Ajayi?
Kayinsola Ajayi is a Nigerian professional sprinter who specialises in the 100m and 60m events. He is from Ikorodu, Lagos, and developed into a leading Nigerian sprint prospect before becoming an international athlete.
World Athletics lists him as born on September 14, 2004. The governing body’s current profile ranks him fourth in the world in the men’s 100m.
Ajayi competed collegiately for Auburn University in the United States before turning professional in 2026. His rise has been particularly rapid since 2024, when he began winning major collegiate honours and establishing himself among Nigeria’s leading sprinters.
Kayinsola Ajayi Biography at a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Kayinsola Ajayi |
| Date of birth | September 14, 2004 |
| Age | 21 years |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Hometown | Ikorodu, Lagos |
| Profession | Professional sprinter |
| Main events | 100m and 60m |
| University | Auburn University |
| Personal best | 9.84 seconds in the 100m |
| Current world ranking | No. 4 in men’s 100m |
| Major 2026 achievement | NCAA Outdoor 100m champion |
| Professional sponsor | Adidas |
Kayinsola Ajayi Early Life and Education
Ajayi is from Ikorodu in Lagos State, Nigeria. His early sprinting development came through Nigerian school and youth competitions.
He gained wider attention after winning both sprint events at the 2021 Maltina School Games. He later improved his 100m personal best and progressed into international junior competition.
His performances eventually earned him opportunities to compete at the World Athletics U20 Championships. He also represented Nigeria at the 2023 African U20 Championships, where he won gold in the 100m.
Ajayi attended Soluk College High School in Lagos before moving to the United States for university athletics.
He studied at Auburn University in Alabama and competed for the Auburn Tigers track and field team. His university career became an important stage in his development as a world-class sprinter. Auburn lists him as a Lagos Ikorodu native and records multiple NCAA and SEC honours.
His academic programme is associated with Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business. His public professional profile also lists Auburn University from 2024 onward.
Kayinsola Ajayi 100m Career
Ajayi’s senior career accelerated after he joined Auburn. In 2024, he won the NCAA 4x100m relay title and the SEC indoor 60m championship.
He also competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics, representing Nigeria in the 100m and 4x100m relay. He reached the men’s 100m semifinal but did not advance to the final.
In 2025, Ajayi helped Auburn win another NCAA 4x100m relay championship. He also finished sixth in the men’s 100m final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, establishing himself among the world’s leading young sprinters.
The 2026 season produced an even bigger breakthrough.
Ajayi won the NCAA Indoor Championship in the 60m in March. He then won the NCAA Outdoor Championship in the 100m in June. He won the outdoor final in a wind-assisted 9.72 seconds.
His 2026 performances also included a 9.84-second run that briefly stood as the world’s fastest 100m time of the season. World Athletics records 9.84 as his legal personal best, while his 9.72 NCAA winning time was wind-assisted and therefore not a legal personal best.
Kayinsola Ajayi Turns Professional
After his successful 2026 NCAA season, Ajayi moved into professional athletics.
He signed a professional contract with Adidas in August 2026 and chose to forgo his remaining senior season at Auburn. The move marked the beginning of his full-time professional career after two highly successful years in American collegiate athletics.
His transition came at a significant point in his career because he had already established himself as one of the fastest 100m sprinters in the world.
Kayinsola Ajayi at the 2026 Commonwealth Games
Ajayi won a bronze medal in the men’s 100m at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The achievement was historic for Nigeria because he became the first Nigerian man in two decades to win a Commonwealth Games medal in the men’s 100m.
The result further strengthened his reputation as one of Africa’s leading young sprinters.
Kayinsola Ajayi and the World Athletics Ultimate Championship
Ajayi is one of nine Nigerian athletes selected for the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest.
The competition runs from September 11 to 13, 2026, and brings together leading athletes across 28 disciplines. World Athletics has announced a total prize purse of $10 million, with each individual champion earning $150,000.
Ajayi enters the men’s 100m competition as the No. 4-ranked athlete in the world. His presence gives Nigeria another strong contender in a field featuring some of the biggest names in global sprinting.
Kayinsola Ajayi Age, Parents and Family
Kayinsola Ajayi was born on September 14, 2004. He is 21 years old as of September 2026.
His age makes his progress particularly notable because he has already competed at the Olympics, reached a World Championships final, won NCAA titles and claimed a Commonwealth Games medal.
Ajayi has spoken publicly about the importance of his family and the community that supported his development. However, detailed information about his parents and wider family has not been sufficiently documented in reliable public sources.
Read More: Owen Sakawa Biography: Age, Education, Elloe, Career and Business
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Kayinsola Ajayi?
Kayinsola Ajayi is a Nigerian professional sprinter who competes mainly in the 100m and 60m events.
How old is Kayinsola Ajayi?
He was born on September 14, 2004, and is 21 years old as of September 2026.
Where is Kayinsola Ajayi from?
He is from Ikorodu in Lagos State, Nigeria.
Where did Kayinsola Ajayi go to school?
He attended Soluk College High School before studying at Auburn University in the United States.
What is Kayinsola Ajayi’s 100m personal best?
His legal 100m personal best is 9.84 seconds. He also ran 9.72 seconds at the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Championships, but the performance was wind-assisted.
What has Kayinsola Ajayi won?
His major achievements include NCAA indoor and outdoor titles, NCAA relay championships, SEC honours, a Commonwealth Games bronze medal and an African U20 100m gold medal.
Is Kayinsola Ajayi a professional athlete?
Yes. He turned professional in 2026 and signed a contract with Adidas after leaving Auburn.
What is Kayinsola Ajayi’s world ranking?
As of September 1, 2026, he is ranked No. 4 in the world in the men’s 100m by World Athletics.
Key Facts About Kayinsola Ajayi
- Kayinsola Ajayi is a Nigerian professional sprinter.
- He was born on September 14, 2004.
- He is from Ikorodu, Lagos.
- He specialises in the 100m and 60m.
- He competed for Auburn University.
- He won the 2026 NCAA Indoor 60m title.
- He won the 2026 NCAA Outdoor 100m title.
- He represented Nigeria at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
- He finished sixth in the 100m at the 2025 World Championships.
- He won bronze in the 100m at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
- He signed a professional Adidas contract in 2026.
- He is ranked No. 4 in the world in the men’s 100m as of September 1, 2026.
- He is entered for the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest.
Conclusion
Kayinsola Ajayi has emerged as one of Nigeria’s most exciting young sprinters. His journey from Ikorodu to Auburn and then the professional ranks has produced major milestones in a remarkably short period.
At 21, he has already competed at the Olympics and World Championships, won NCAA titles and claimed a Commonwealth Games medal. With a No. 4 world ranking and a place at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship, Ajayi is entering an important new phase of his career.