Ajayi Stuns Seville in London Diamond League Win

Nigerian sprinter Kayinsola Ajayi has defeated reigning world champion Oblique Seville to win the men’s 100 metres at the London Diamond League 2026 on Saturday.

The 21-year-old clocked 9.84 seconds to equal his season’s best time and claim victory at the London Stadium, beating Jamaica’s Seville, who finished second in 9.87 seconds.

Team GB’s Romell Grave completed the podium after recording a time of 9.97 seconds.

Kayinsola Ajayi 🇳🇬 storms to a National Record of 9.84s (-0.7) to win the men’s 100m at the London Diamond League!

2. Oblique Seville 🇯🇲 9.87
3. Romell Glave 🇬🇧 9.97
4. Emmanuel Eseme 🇨🇲 9.97 https://t.co/OBKbdI7BoU

— Track & Field Gazette (@TrackGazette) July 18, 2026

The race was closely contested between Ajayi and Seville in the early stages, but after the 50-metre mark, the Nigerian surged ahead and powered to the finish line ahead of the Jamaican.

Kayinsola Ajayi has defeated reigning world champion Oblique Seville. Credit: Olympics.com.

Ajayi, who holds the Nigerian 100m record, celebrated the victory against one of the biggest names in sprinting.

The win adds to an impressive career for Ajayi, who is a two-time NCAA champion and reigning champion.

He has also won NCAA titles in the men’s 60m indoor and 100m outdoor events.

The victory further strengthens Ajayi’s position among the world’s top emerging sprint talents.

Author

Deborah Akwa

Deborah Akwa is a content writer with over four years of experience creating brand stories, editorial content, and audience-focused articles on topics like health, lifestyle, and entertainment.

When she isn't writing, she is behind the scenes managing editorial operations and helping the content team work better.

She loves using words to connect brands with their audiences. Outside of work, she enjoys watching movies and engaging in thought-provoking conversations.