Belgrade Indoor Meeting: Akinola’s fairytale rise continues with Irish record silver

Posted : 16 February 2026

Nigeria’s export to Ireland, Toluwabori ‘Bori’ Akinola, delivered another emphatic statement of intent on the international stage, storming to a historic silver medal in the men’s 60m at the Belgrade Indoor Meeting, one of the prestigious stops on the World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold circuit.

Inside the electric atmosphere of the Atletska d’Vorana in Serbia’s capital, the 25-year-old sprinter rewrote the Irish record books, clocking 6.54 seconds to finish second in a dramatic final that needed five attempts to get underway after four false starts.

The race was eventually claimed by Hungary’s Dominik Illovszky, who powered to victory in a meeting and national record time of 6.52 seconds. But the spotlight firmly shone on Akinola, whose blistering run established a new Irish national record and confirmed his rapid rise among Europe’s elite short sprinters.

From Lagos to Irish record-holder

Akinola’s journey makes the performance even more remarkable.

Having relocated from Lagos to Ireland in September 2017 with his family, he attended Community College in Balbriggan before balancing academics and athletics at University College Dublin, where he studied computer science. He later worked as an iOS engineer — proof of his ability to excel both on the track and in tech.

His sprint career gathered momentum after joining Fingallians Athletics Club in 2018. By 2025, he had claimed Irish national titles over both 60m and 100m, before lowering the national 60m record again in 2026.

Earlier this indoor season, Akinola underlined his form by winning the 60m at the Meeting Indoor de Lyon (6.65s) and striking gold at EAP Glasgow in 6.59s, performances that set the stage for his Belgrade breakthrough.

Enekwechi secures podium finish

In the men’s shot put, Nigeria’s Chukwuebuka Enekwechi delivered a solid showing to claim bronze with a best throw of 21.28m.

American world indoor silver medallist Roger Steen emerged victorious, while his compatriot Jordan Geist, who arrived as the world leader, settled for second place with 21.51m.

Though Enekwechi did not hit his season’s best, his podium finish keeps him firmly in contention as the indoor campaign gathers momentum.

A rivalry that shaped resilience

Akinola’s ascent has not been without fierce domestic competition. He previously finished behind fellow Nigerian-born Irish sprinter Israel Olatunde at the Irish Championships in 2023 and 2024, though both athletes combined forces in Ireland’s 4x100m relay squad at the 2024 European Meet.

Now, with a national record and a World Indoor Tour podium to his name, Akinola’s trajectory suggests he is stepping into a new phase — not merely as a contender, but as a genuine medal threat on the global stage.

Belgrade may well be remembered as the night his promise transformed into proof.

Belgrade Indoor Meeting: Akinola’s fairytale rise continues with Irish record silver

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