Nigeria’s Kanyisola Ajayi becomes World’s Fastest Man in 2026

LEXINGTON, USA — Nigerian sprinting has entered a historic new era. In the early hours of Saturday, 21-year-old sprint sensation Kanyinsola Ajayi permanently etched his name into the athletics folklore by shattering Nigeria’s long-standing men’s 100-meter national record at the 2026 NCAA Division I East First Round track and field meet in Lexington, Kentucky.

​The Auburn University sophomore delivered a breathtaking performance in the quarter-final heats, stopping the clock at a blistering 9.84 seconds (with a legal tailwind of 0.4 m/s).

​The historic run effectively erases the previous national benchmark of 9.85 seconds, which was set nearly two decades ago by former African speed king Olusoji Fasuba in May 2006.

​Becoming the World Leader

​With this monumental performance, Ajayi secures an automatic qualification spot for the upcoming NCAA Championships. More impressively, his 9.84-second dash catapults him to the top of the global standings, making him the fastest man in the world so far in 2026.

​He surpasses the previous world-leading time set earlier this week by Botswana’s 400m world champion, Collen Kebinatshipi, who had briefly captured global headlines with an unorthodox but incredibly fast stint in the shorter sprint.

ADVERTISEMENT

​The achievement also cements Ajayi’s place in collegiate sports history. His time stands as the second-fastest 100m performance ever recorded in United States collegiate history, sitting just 0.02 seconds behind the collegiate record of 9.82 seconds established by American icon Christian Coleman in 2017.

​A Rapid Rise to Greatness

​Ajayi’s record-breaking run is not an isolated flash in the pan but rather the continuation of a meteoric rise. After claiming the Nigerian national title in June 2024 and reaching the semi-finals at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Ajayi truly signaled his world-class potential at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. There, he clocked 9.88 seconds in the heats, becoming the first Nigerian man in 18 years to reach a World Championship 100m final, where he ultimately finished sixth.

​Earlier in the 2026 indoor season, he had already tied Christian Coleman’s collegiate 60m record of 6.45 seconds to win the NCAA Indoor Championship. Transitioning that raw speed to the outdoor track has now made him Nigeria’s fastest man in history.

​”Me Versus Myself”

​Speaking to journalists from Making of Champions immediately after the historic race, an emotional Ajayi attributed his monumental feat to rigorous preparation, tactical discipline, and deep-rooted spiritual conviction.

​“My coach told me what to do. I knew I was in good shape, so I just had to come here and execute,” Ajayi stated. “It is me versus myself. I’m not thinking about anybody else. I just have to focus and do what I have to do.”

​When questioned about finally unseating Fasuba from a record that stood unbothered for 20 years, the young sprinter expressed profound gratitude.

​“I’ve always been dreaming about it. God made it happen, so I’m very grateful to God.”

​With his sights firmly set on the upcoming NCAA Championships, the Commonwealth Games later this year, and the 2027 World Athletics Championships, Ajayi’s historic night in Kentucky feels less like a destination and more like the opening chapter of a legendary career.