# Enoch Adegoke

Enoch Obaloluwa Adegoke (born 8 March 2000) is a Nigerian sprinter. He was the 2019 African U20 champion in the 100 metres. He is also an Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games finalist in the 100 metres.
At the 2018 Commonwealth Games, he competed in both the 100 metres and the 4x100 metres relay. In the 100 metres, Adegoke won both his heat and semi-final to progress to the final where he finished seventh in a time of 10.35s.

## Career
### 2018 Commonwealth Games and African Championships

Early in 2018, Adegoke won the 100m at the Nigerian Commonwealth Games trials in a personal best time of 10.31s. The trials which were held in Abuja saw the seventeen-year-old Adegoke go into the final as the fifth fastest athlete behind favourites Seye Ogunlewe and Ogho-Oghene Egwero. Ogunlewe did not start in the final, and Adegoke took the opportunity to secure a spot on the Nigerian team to the games by winning the race while Egwero placed second.
In his first race outside Nigeria, Adegoke set a personal best of 10.19s in the 100m heats at the Commonwealth Games. He backed up that performance when he returned to win his semi-final race ahead of Henricho Bruintjies, who finished in second place. Though he finished in 7th place in the final, he had achieved some history by being the first home-based athlete in a Commonwealth, World or Olympic final in over a decade. In the 4x100 metres relay he was part of a Nigerian team that qualified for the final. The team, however, failed to finish and was eventually disqualified in the final.
Adegoke was named as one of the athletes representing his country at the 2018 World U20 Athletics Championships. The Nigerian athletes, however, never left the country as their visas were not ready by the time the event started.
He represented Nigeria at the 2018 African Championships in the 100m and 4 × 100 m relay. Though he did not run in the final of the 4 × 100 m relay, he helped the team qualify for a place in the final. The Nigerian team went on to win a silver medal in the event.

### 2019 U20 Championships and Relays

Adegoke went into the 2019 African U20 Championships in Abidjan as one of the favourites for the 100m title. He won his heat, semifinal races, and the title in a season's best time of 10.29s. In the 200m, he finished off the podium in fourth place. He later anchored the Nigerian team made up of Gershon Omubo, Shedrack Akpeki, Alaba Akintola and himself to a win in the 4x100 metres relay at the championships.
He represented Nigeria in the relays at the 2019 World Relays and also at the Doha World Championships.

### 2020 Tokyo Olympics and National Titles

He qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, winning the 100m at the Nigerian Championships in 10.00s. The clock showed 9.97 as he crossed the finish line and he thought he had dipped under 10s for the first time but the official time was round up. Nonetheless, excited journalists quickly reported that he had dipped under 10s before the time was confirmed. This was the only time he had dipped beneath the 2020 Olympic standard after being close on previous attempts clocking 10.06s and a windy 10.05s.
He is the current fastest man in Nigeria after beating the likes of Usheoritse Itsekiri and Jerry Jakpa to claim the feat.
He won the 100 meters final at the Nigeria National Sports Festival (EDO 2020) with a time of 10.28s ahead of teammate Alaba Akintola who placed second with 10.29s.
At the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Adegoke ran a personal best of 9.98 in his 100m event heat, becoming the eleventh Nigerian sprinter to break the 10-second barrier. He then finished second in his semi-final heat with a time of 10.00s to advance to the final, but in the final Adegoke pulled up with an apparent hamstring injury and was unable to finish the race.

## Representation at the 13th African Games

Adegoke was part of the Nigerian contingent at the 13th African Games held in Accra, Ghana, in 2023. He competed in the 100 meters event, where he was seen as one of the favorites to win a medal. While he faced tough competition from other African sprinters, Adegoke delivered a strong performance, finishing among the top sprinters in the competition.
In addition to his individual event, Adegoke also competed in the 4x100 meters relay, where Nigeria’s team finished with a solid performance. His leadership and experience on the track made him a valuable asset to the team, and he continued to inspire younger athletes with his commitment to excellence.

## Future Goals and Ambitions

Enoch Adegoke’s primary goal is to represent Nigeria at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, where he hopes to compete at full strength and secure a medal. He has also set his sights on the World Athletics Championships, where he aims to challenge for podium finishes in the 100 meters and 4x100 meters relay.
Adegoke is determined to break more records and cement his place as one of Nigeria’s greatest sprinters. His focus remains on refining his technique, improving his times, and staying injury-free in the lead-up to these major international events.

## Legacy and Inspiration

As one of Nigeria’s most promising sprinters, Adegoke serves as an inspiration to young athletes across the country. His journey from a young boy in Ilesa to an Olympic finalist demonstrates the power of perseverance, hard work, and dedication. Adegoke often speaks about the importance of discipline and the support he has received from his coaches, family, and community.
He is also committed to giving back to his community and promoting athletics in Nigeria. Adegoke regularly engages with youth programs and participates in events that encourage young Nigerians to pursue their dreams, whether in sports or other fields.

## Personal life

Enoch Adegoke is known for his humble and grounded personality. Despite his success, he remains focused on his goals and is deeply committed to his faith and family. He often credits his success to the support of his family, who have stood by him throughout his journey in athletics.
When not training or competing, Adegoke enjoys spending time with his loved ones and participating in community events. He is also passionate about education and has expressed interest in pursuing academic opportunities alongside his athletics career.