Kayinsola Ajayi Rejects Fatigue Concerns Ahead of World Ultimate Championship

Posted : 11 September 2026

Nigerian sprint star Kayinsola Ajayi has dismissed concerns that fatigue could affect his performance at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary.

Ajayi has enjoyed a remarkable 2026 campaign. He said he remains physically ready for the demands of the competition despite a busy season that has seen him compete at several major meetings.

The Nigerian sprinter said his preparation was planned with the length of the season in mind. He also rejected suggestions that his extensive racing schedule had left him tired.

“It has been a great season for me, running sub-10s multiple times, 10 times so far in 2026,” Ajayi said.

“Some people might say that Ajayi is tired, but I am not tired. We planned for this.”

Ajayi's form has made him one of the leading contenders in the men's 100m at the three-day championship. World Athletics lists him as the fourth-ranked 100m athlete in the world, while his legal season and personal best stands at 9.84 seconds.

The 21-year-old broke Nigeria's long-standing 100m record earlier this year with 9.84 seconds before equalling the mark twice. He also produced a wind-assisted 9.72 seconds to win the 2026 NCAA outdoor title in Eugene.

Ajayi has also recorded two Diamond League victories this season. He won in Eugene and London, clocking 9.84 seconds on both occasions, before finishing third in the Diamond League Final in Brussels with 9.97 seconds.

His most recent major race before Budapest came at the Galà dei Castelli meeting in Bellinzona, where he won the 100m in 9.91 seconds. The performance was reported as his 15th career sub-10-second clocking and his ninth legal sub-10 run of the 2026 season at that point.

Ajayi faces a strong field in Budapest. Jamaica's Oblique Seville enters as the fastest athlete in the field this season with 9.82 seconds, while Emmanuel Eseme, Kenneth Bednarek, Ronnie Baker, Christian Coleman, Akani Simbine and Letsile Tebogo are also among the contenders.

The men's 100m semifinals are scheduled for Saturday, September 12, with the final set for later that evening. Ajayi will be seeking to cap his breakthrough season with a major title at the first World Athletics Ultimate Championship.

Kayinsola Ajayi Rejects Fatigue Concerns Ahead of World Ultimate Championship

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