Jeremiah Azu
{{short description|British athlete (born 2001)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Jeremiah Azu
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| image = 2022-08-21 European Championships 2022 – Men's 4 x 100 Metres by Sandro Halank–014.jpg
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| caption = Azu, 2022 in Munich
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| nationality = British (Welsh)
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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|05|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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| hometown = Cardiff
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| sport = Athletics
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| club = Cardiff AAC
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| coach = Helen James
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{{MedalSport | Men's athletics}}
{{Medal|Country|{{GBR2}}}}
{{Medal|Competition|Olympic Games}}
{{Medal|Bronze|2024 Paris|4 × 100 m relay}}
{{Medal|Competition|World Indoor Championships}}
{{Medal|Gold|2025 Nanjing|60 m}}
{{MedalCompetition|European Championships}}
{{Medal|Gold|2022 Munich|4 × 100 m relay}}
{{Medal|Bronze|2022 Munich|100 m}}
{{MedalCompetition|European Indoor Championships}}
{{Medal|Gold|2025 Apeldoorn|60 m}}
{{MedalCompetition|European Games}}
{{Medal|Bronze|2023 Kraków-Małopolska|100 m}}
{{MedalCompetition|European U23 Championships}}
{{Medal|Gold|2021 Tallinn|100 m}}
{{Medal|Gold|2023 Espoo|100 m}}
}}
Jeremiah Azu (born 15 May 2001) is a Welsh sprinter. He is the 2025 European Indoor Champion and 2025 World Indoor Champion over 60 metres.{{cite web |title=Jeremiah Azu - Welsh Athletics |url=https://www.welshathletics.org/en/page/jeremiah-azu |website=www.welshathletics.org |access-date=26 June 2022 |language=en}} In 2024, he became the first Welshman to run the 100 metres in under 10 seconds in wind-legal conditions.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/articles/cd114j22z0eo|title=Welsh sprinter Azu breaks 10-second barrier|date=25 May 2024 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=26 May 2024}} Azu is a three-time British champion, twice indoors over 60 m, once outdoors over 100 metres and a European Champion in the 4 × 100 metre relay.
Career
In 2022, Azu competed at the British Championships where he won the 100 metres in a wind-assisted time of 9.90 seconds.{{cite web |title=Azu gold tops Welsh success at UK Championship |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/wales/61939295 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=26 June 2022 |date=25 June 2022}}{{cite web |last=Henderson |first=Jason |title=Jeremiah Azu speeds to British 100m gold |url=https://athleticsweekly.com/event-reports/jeremiah-azu-speeds-to-british-100m-gold-1039957765/ |website=Athletics Weekly |access-date=26 June 2022 |date=25 June 2022}} In his first senior international appearance, he won the bronze medal over 100 metres at the 2022 European Athletics Championships in a new personal best of 10.13 s, and a gold in the 4 × 100 metre relay at the same competition.{{cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2022-08-17/jeremiah-azu-claims-european-100m-bronze-with-new-personal-best|title=European Championships: Jeremiah Azu claims 100m bronze with new personal best|website=ITV|date=17 August 2022|access-date=9 March 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127115049/https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2022-08-17/jeremiah-azu-claims-european-100m-bronze-with-new-personal-best|archive-date=27 November 2022|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.britishathletics.org.uk/news-and-features/gb-ni-men-win-4x100m-gold-in-championship-record-on-final-night-in-munich/|title=GB & NI MEN WIN 4X100M GOLD IN CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD ON FINAL NIGHT IN MUNICH|website=British Athletics|date=21 August 2022|access-date=9 March 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208123443/https://www.britishathletics.org.uk/news-and-features/gb-ni-men-win-4x100m-gold-in-championship-record-on-final-night-in-munich/|archive-date=8 December 2024|url-status=live}}
The following year, Azu made it to the final of the 60 m at the European Indoor Championships, where he finished 6th.{{cite web|url=https://worldathletics.org/athletes/great-britain-ni/jeremiah-azu-14771648|title=Jeremiah Azu - Athlete Profile|website=World Athletics|access-date=9 March 2025}} In June, competing in the 100 metres in the 2023 European Athletics Team Championships, as part of the 2023 European Games, he won the bronze medal. At the European U23 Championships in Espoo, Azu won gold over the 100 m in a wind-assisted 10.05 s.{{cite web|url=https://www.britishathletics.org.uk/news-and-features/jeremiah-azu-and-yemi-mary-john-crowned-euro-u23-champions/|title=JEREMIAH AZU AND YEMI MARY JOHN CROWNED EURO U23 CHAMPIONS|website=British Athletics|date=14 July 2023|access-date=9 March 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241214224451/https://www.britishathletics.org.uk/news-and-features/jeremiah-azu-and-yemi-mary-john-crowned-euro-u23-champions/|archive-date=14 December 2024|url-status=live}}
Azu become the first Welsh 100 m runner to break the 10-second barrier in wind-legal conditions clocking 9.97 at the True Athletes Classics in Leverkusen, Germany, on 25 May 2024.
After winning the silver medal at the 2024 British Athletics Championships, Azu was subsequently named in the Great Britain team for the 2024 Summer Olympics.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/articles/cd1646n46zpo |title=Kerr & Johnson-Thompson head GB Olympics athletics squad |website=BBC Sport |date=5 July 2024 |access-date=6 July 2024}} At the Games in Paris, he was disqualified in his 100 metre heat for a false start.{{cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/other-sport/athletics/jeremiah-azu-olympics-100m-disaster-29670329|title=Jeremiah Azu in Olympics 100m disaster as he's escorted from track amid protest|date=3 August 2024 |publisher=Wales Online|accessdate=3 August 2024}} However, he recovered to win a bronze medal in the 4 × 100 metres relay.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/olympics/story/_/id/40790536/olympics-2024-team-gb-quartet-win-womens-4x100m-relay-silver|title=Olympics 2024: Team GB win 4x100m relay silver, bronze double|date=9 August 2024 |publisher=ESPN|accessdate=9 August 2024}}
Azu won the gold medals in the 60 metres at the 2024 and 2025 British Indoor Athletics Championships, making him a three time national champion, once outdoors, twice indoors.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/articles/cd65vze60l4o|title=Azu retains British indoor men's 60m title|date=22 February 2025 |publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=23 February 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://athleticsweekly.com/event-reports/azu-and-williams-storm-to-scintillating-60m-titles-1039997550/|title=Azu and Williams storm to scintillating 60m titles|date=22 February 2025 |publisher=Athletics Weekly|accessdate=23 February 2025}} Following his win in 2025, Azu competed at the European Indoor Championships, where he won gold in the 60 m in a new personal best of 6.49, his first time under the 6.50-barrier.{{cite web|url=https://athleticsweekly.com/featured/jeremiah-azu-flies-to-60m-success-in-apeldoorn-1039997957/|title=Jeremiah Azu flies to 60m success in Apeldoorn|website=Athletics Weekly|date=8 March 2025|last=Crumley|first=Euan}}
He won the gold medal in the 60 metres at the 2025 World Indoor Championships in China, equalling his personal best of 6.49 in the final.{{cite web|url=https://athleticsweekly.com/event-reports/world-indoor-60m-gold-for-jeremiah-azu-in-nanjing-1039998303/|title=World indoor 60m gold for Jeremiah Azu in Nanjing|date=21 March 2025 |publisher=Athletics Weekly|accessdate=21 March 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/articles/crew4z3jpp4o|title=GB's Azu sprints to 60m gold for first global title|date=21 March 2025 |publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=21 March 2025}}
Personal life
Azu was born in the Netherlands, and raised in Wales. He is of Ghanaian descent.{{Cite web|url=https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2022/8-july/features/interviews/interview-jeremiah-azu-sprinter|title=Interview: Jeremiah Azu, sprinter|website=www.churchtimes.co.uk}} He became a father in March 2025.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/articles/crknl0n38xdo|title=2025 will be 'best year of my life', says GB's Azu|department=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=9 March 2025|access-date=9 March 2025}}
Competition record
| {{AchievementTable|Event=yes}} |
| colspan="6"|Representing {{GBR2}} and {{WAL}} |
|---|
| 2017
|Celtic Games | |bgcolor=gold|1st |100 m | |
| rowspan="3" |2018
|Celtic Games | |bgcolor=gold|1st |100 m | |
| rowspan=2|Welsh Athletics Championships
|rowspan=2| |bgcolor=gold|1st |60 m | |
| bgcolor=gold|1st
|200 m | |
| rowspan="6" |2019
|Welsh Athletics Under 20 Championships | |bgcolor=gold|1st |60 m | |
| rowspan=2|England Under 20 Athletics Championships
|rowspan=2| |bgcolor=gold|1st |60 m | |
| bgcolor=gold|1st
|200 m | |
| British Athletics Indoor Championships
|bgcolor=cc9966|3rd |60 m | |
| European U20 Championships
| |100 m |13.45 |
| European U23 Championships
|7th |100 m | |
| rowspan="3" |2021
|Manchester International Championships | |bgcolor=gold|1st |100 m | |
| rowspan=2|European U23 Championships
|bgcolor=gold|1st |100 m |
| DNF
|4 × 100 m relay | |
| rowspan="5" |2022
|British Indoor Athletics Championships |Birmingham, United Kingdom |bgcolor=cc9966|3rd |60 m |
| Golden Spike
|bgcolor=gold|1st |4 × 100 m relay |
| British Athletics Championships
|Manchester, United Kingdom |bgcolor=gold|1st |100 m |
| Commonwealth Games{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/commonwealth-games/62312291|title=Commonwealth Games: Wales sprinter Jeremiah Azu aiming for Birmingham success|date=1 August 2022|website=BBC Sport|access-date=3 August 2022}}
|Birmingham, United Kingdom | 5th |10.19 |
| European Athletics Championships
|Munich, Germany |bgcolor=cc9966|3rd |100 m{{cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/uk-sport-news/welshman-jeremiah-azu-takes-100m-24775850|title=Welshman Jeremiah Azu takes 100m bronze for Great Britain at European Championships|date=16 August 2022|website=WalesOnline|language=en|access-date=21 August 2022}} |10.13 |
| rowspan="2" |2023
|bgcolor=gold|1st |100 m |
| 2023 European Athletics Team Championships
|bgcolor=cc9966|3rd |10.16 |
| rowspan="4" |2024
|British Indoor Athletics Championships |Birmingham, United Kingdom |bgcolor=gold|1st |60 m |
| British Athletics Championships
|Manchester, United Kingdom |bgcolor=silver|2nd |100 m |10.17 |
| rowspan="2" |2024 Olympic Games
| rowspan="2" |Paris, France |DSQ |100 m | |
| bgcolor=cc9966|3rd
|4 × 100 relay | |
| rowspan=3|2025
|British Indoor Athletics Championships |Birmingham, United Kingdom |bgcolor=gold|1st |60 m |
| European Athletics Indoor Championships
|Apeldoorn, Netherlands |bgcolor=gold|1st |60 m |
| World Athletics Indoor Championships
|Nanjing, China |bgcolor=gold|1st |60 m |
Personal bests
Outdoor
- 100 metres – 9.97 (Leverkusen, Germany 2024)
- 100 metres – 9.90 (+2.5 m/s, Manchester 2022)
- 200 metres – 20.96 (+0.3 m/s, Loughborough 2022)
Indoor
- 60 metres – 6.49 (European Championship 2025)
- 60 meters - 6.49 (World Championship 2025)
- 200 metres – 21.25 (Sheffield 2019)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{World Athletics}}
- {{British Athletics}}
- {{Power of 10}}
- [https://www.welshathletics.org/en/page/jeremiah-azu Jeremiah Azu] at Welsh Athletics
- {{Team GB|jeremiah-azu/12iOqZnEGppzqxmbKhjHc9}}
- {{Team Wales|jeremiah-azu}}
- {{Olympics.com profile|jeremiah-azu}}
- [https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/jeremiah-azu_1924439 Jeremiah Azu] at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics
- {{2022 Commonwealth Games profile|60043}}
- {{Instagram}}
{{Footer World Indoor Champions 60m Men}}
{{Footer European Champions 4x100 m Men}}
{{Footer European Indoor Champions 60m Men}}
{{Footer U23 European Champions 100m Men}}
{{British Athletics Championships men's 100 metres champions}}
{{British Indoor Athletics Championships men's 60 metres champions}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Azu, Jeremiah}}
Category:British male sprinters
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2022 Commonwealth Games
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2024 Summer Olympics
Category:European Athletics Championships winners
Category:Commonwealth Games competitors for Wales
Category:People from Rumney, Cardiff
Category:Welsh people of Ghanaian descent
Category:Sportspeople of Ghanaian descent
Category:Dutch sportspeople of Ghanaian descent
Category:Dutch emigrants to the United Kingdom
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2023 European Games
Category:European Games bronze medalists for Great Britain
Category:European Games medalists in athletics
Category:British Athletics Championships winners
Category:Medalists at the 2024 Summer Olympics
Category:Olympic bronze medallists for Great Britain
Category:Olympic bronze medalists in athletics (track and field)
Category:Olympic athletes for Great Britain
Category:21st-century British sportsmen