World Ultimate Championship: Ajayi Debunks Tiredness Rumour

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

Ajayi heads into the men's 100m competition after an exceptional 2026 campaign that has seen him establish himself among the world's leading sprinters.

The 21-year-old has already competed extensively this season, recording 10 sub-10-second performances and producing a legal personal best of 9.84 seconds. He also finished third in the Diamond League Final in Brussels earlier this month, becoming the first Nigerian to claim a podium finish in the men's 100m at the event.

With the Ultimate Championship coming at the end of a demanding season, concerns had emerged over whether the accumulated workload could affect Ajayi's performance.

However, the Nigerian insisted that fatigue is not an issue and revealed that his season had been carefully planned with the demanding schedule in mind.

“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 will now turn his attention to one of the toughest 100m fields of the season. He enters the competition ranked fourth in the world and among the leading contenders in a field featuring several established international stars.

The Ultimate Championship brings together Olympic champions, world champions, Diamond League winners and the leading performers of the season for its inaugural edition in Budapest.

With a record $10 million prize purse on offer and individual champions set to receive $150,000, Ajayi has another major opportunity to cap his breakthrough season on a high.

The Nigerian will be hoping his preparation pays off as he looks to challenge for honours and further strengthen his reputation as one of the country's brightest sprinting prospects.