Udodi Onwuzurike

Udodi Onwuzurike
Personal information
Full nameUdodi Chudi Onwuzurike
NationalityAmerican, Nigerian
Born (2003-01-29) 29 January 2003
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Weight70 kg (154 lb)
Sport
Country Nigeria
SportAthletics
Event
Sprinting
ClubStanford Cardinal
Achievements and titles
Personal bests
  • 100 m: 9.92 +1.4 (2023)
  • 200 m: 19.76 +0.6 (2023)
Medal record
Commonwealth Games
Silver medal – second place2026 Glasgow200m
Bronze medal – third place2022 Birmingham4×100 m relay
World U20 Championships
Gold medal – first place2021 Nairobi200 m

Udodi Chudi Onwuzurike (born 29 January 2003) is a sprinter who specializes in the 200 metres. Born in the United States, he represents Nigeria internationally. He was the gold medallist at the World Athletics U20 Championships in 2021.[2][3] Onwuzurike competes collegiately for Stanford University[4] and is an alumnus of Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

On 26 May 2023, he ran the 100 metres in 9.92 seconds at Sacramento becoming the 50th man to break 10 seconds for 100 metres and 20 seconds for 200 metres.

Early life

Born in Detroit, Michigan, USA, to Nigerian parents, Udodi Chudi Onwuzurike holds dual citizenship, but his allegiance has always been with Nigeria, the country of his heritage. Growing up, Onwuzurike competed in various sports. He attended Brother Rice High School, where he began to focus on sprinting and achieved notable results at the high school level.[5][6]

He has cited Nigerian sprinters such as Olusoji Fasuba as influences.[7][8]

Career

Junior Career

At the 2021 World Athletics U20 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya, Onwuzurike won the 200 meters event in a time of 20.21 seconds. He became the first Nigerian male sprinter to win a gold medal in the 200 m at the World U20 Championships.[9] Onwuzurike also competed in the 100 meters, where he advanced to the semifinals.[10]

College Career

Onwuzurike accepted an athletic scholarship to Stanford University and was an All-American sprinter for the Stanford Cardinal track and field team.[10]

Senior Career

Onwuzurike has represented Nigeria at several major international competitions, including 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2022 African Championships in Athletics. At the 2022 African Championships in Mauritius, he reached the finals in the 200 meters. He finished fourth.[10]

At the 2023 African Games in Accra, Ghana, Onwuzurike competed in both the 100 m and 200 m events. He advanced to the finals in both events.[10]

He competed in the 200 Meter at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. He placed fifth in his heat, then won his repechage heat to qualify for the semi-final where he was eliminated by placing last.

At the 2026 Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow, in the 200 meters, he finished second, claiming the silver medal with a season's best time of 22.09 seconds.[11][12] In the final of the 4 × 100 metres relay, he helped lead the Nigerian team to the bronze medal, finishing behind Canada and Australia.[13][14]

Personal bests

Udodi Chudi Onwuzurike’s personal best in the 100 meters is 9.92 seconds, a time he achieved in 2023. In the 200 meters, his personal best is 19.76 seconds, set during the 2022 season.[10]

Grand Slam Track results[15]
SlamRace groupEventPl.TimePrize money
2025 Philadelphia SlamShort sprints 200 m7th20.67US$12,500
100 m6th10.20

References

  1. ↑ "ONWUZURIKE Udodi Chudi". Paris 2024 Olympics. Archived from the original on 30 July 2024. (alternate link)
  2. ↑ "BREAKING: Udodi Chudi Onwuzurike Wins Another Gold For Nigeria At World U-20 Athletics Championship". 21 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  3. ↑ "Onwuzurike Sets New Record in Men's 200m". This Day. 21 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  4. ↑ Udodi Onwuzurike, Stanford Cardinal Athletics, Retrieved 4 March 2024
  5. ↑ Amos, Kobor (23 July 2022). "I'm satisfied with my son's performance, says Onwuzurike". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  6. ↑ Amoye, Temisan (28 August 2021). "Onwuzurike 'begged' to run for Nigeria at Nairobi 2021". Vanguard News. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  7. ↑ Anthony (4 April 2020). "Nigerian athletes who could break Fasuba's 14-year-old African record". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  8. ↑ Oluwalowo, ’Tosin (7 August 2020). "Local sprinters target Fasuba's 14-year record". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  9. ↑ "From underdog to champion in Nairobi, Onwuzurike sets his sights on the big stage | FEATURE | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Udodi Onwuzurike at World Athletics
  11. ↑ "Nigeria's Udodi Onwuzurike sprints to Commonwealth Games 200m Silver - P.M. News". Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  12. ↑ Akinbo, Peter (1 August 2026). "Onwuzurike clinches 200m silver with season's best". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  13. ↑ Eludini, Tunde (3 August 2026). "Nigeria: Updated - Glasgow 2026: Usoro Wins Silver As Relay Quartet Settles for Bronze After Appeal Drama". Premium Times. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  14. ↑ Eludini, Tunde (1 August 2026). "UPDATED: Glasgow 2026: Usoro wins silver as relay quartet settles for bronze after appeal drama". Premium Times. ISSN 2360-7688. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  15. ↑ "Grand Slam Track Results". Grand Slam Track. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
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