Nigerian sprinters Kanyinsola Ajayi and Favour Ashe have secured places in the men’s 100m semi-finals at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Both athletes are making their Olympic debuts in this event.
Ajayi impressed with a victory in Heat 5, clocking 10.02 seconds and outpacing reigning Olympic champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs, who finished second with a time of 10.05 seconds. Ghana’s Abdul-Rasheed Saminu took third place in 10.06 seconds.
Ashe qualified for the semi-finals by finishing fourth in Heat 4. Despite not securing an automatic qualification spot, he advanced by claiming the last non-automatic qualifying position. Ashe finished behind Jamaica’s Oblique Seville, Japan’s Abdul Hakim Sani Brown, and Thailand’s Thurpool Bonboon in his heat.
In swimming events, 16-year-old Adaku Nwandu competed in the women’s 50m Freestyle. She finished second in Heat 6 behind Elizaveta Pecherskikh. Despite her strong performance in the heat, Nwandu did not qualify for the final.
These results represent a positive start for Nigeria’s track and field contingent at the Paris Olympics, with Ajayi and Ashe’s advancement to the semi-finals offering hope for potential medals in the highly competitive 100m event. The performances also highlight the emergence of new talent in Nigerian athletics on the global stage.
