Yinka Ajayi

Yinka Ajayi (born 11 August 1997) is a Nigerian sprinter specialising in the 400 metres. She was the bronze medalists at the 2018 African Championships in Asaba. Individually, she also won a bronze medal at the 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games, in addition to several relay medals. She is also sister to Miami Dolphins Running Back; Jay Ajayi.

She was a finalist in the 400 metres at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and went on to anchor the Nigerian 4 × 400 m relay quartet (Patience George, Glory Nathaniel, Praise Idamadudu, Ajayi) to a silver medal behind Jamaica.

She finished second at the 2017 Nigerian Championships in a then personal best of 51.57 s behind Patience George. She made the semifinals of the 400 metres at the 2017 IAAF World Championships. Her personal best in the event is 51.22 seconds set in Abuja at the 2018 Abuja Golden League.

In 2021, she became the first woman in the history of Drake University to represent the school in track and field at the Olympic Games.

Ajayi is currently serving an eight-year competition ban (the initial four years and four more years added in 2024) set to end in January 2030 for an anti-doping rule violation after testing positive for metenolone in December 2021.

International competitions