American-born Nigerian sprinter, Udodi Onwuzurike has decided to forgo his remaining two years of college scholarship at Stanford University to turn professional. After becoming the NCAA 200m champion this season and boasting impressive Personal Bests of 19.76s and 9.92s in the 100m, Onwuzurike is considered one of the rising stars in the sprinting world.

Onwuzurike, aged 20, announced this significant decision on his social media platforms, stating that his lifelong dream of becoming a professional athlete has come true. He expressed gratitude to Stanford for his college experience and regarded it as a new beginning rather than a farewell. With this move, Onwuzurike will now compete at professional meets in Europe, joining the ranks of elite athletes.

“After much prayer and discussion, I will be forgoing the remaining two years of my collegiate eligibility and will be turning professional. My lifelong dream has come true, bringing both excitement and reflection with this fresh opportunity. Thank you, Stanford for everything. This is not a goodbye, but a new beginning.”

 

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As the 2021 World Junior Champion, Onwuzurike aims to make his first professional season remarkable as he prepares for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Despite being one of the most talented high school sprinters in the US, he opted to represent Nigeria and compete for Stanford University. During his two years in college, he set numerous records in both indoor and outdoor track events, leaving a lasting mark on Stanford’s track and field history.

His first senior appearances took place at the 2022 World Championships in Oregon and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where he contributed to the Nigerian 4x100m relay team’s bronze medal. While Onwuzurike hasn’t disclosed which professional shoe company he will represent, his future in professional sprinting looks promising.

 

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