World Athletics Ultimate Championship: Nigerian athletes earns $130,000 in Budapet
Nigerian athletes earned a combined $130,000 in prize money at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, led by Tobi Amusan’s silver-medal performance in the women’s 100m hurdles. 
Amusan clocked 12.34 seconds to finish second behind American Masai Russell, who won the event in 12.22 seconds and collected the $150,000 winner’s prize.
The Nigerian sprint hurdler earned $75,000 for her runner-up finish, accounting for more than half of the country’s total prize-money haul from the championship. 
Kanyinsola Ajayi also produced a strong performance in the men’s 100m, finishing fourth to earn $25,000, while Ezekiel Nathaniel secured sixth position in the men’s 400m hurdles and took home $14,000.
Udodi Onwuzurike earned $10,000 after finishing eighth in the men’s 200m, while Ella Onojuvwevwo completed Nigeria’s earnings with $6,000 following her 12th-place finish in the women’s 400m. 
The combined earnings came from five Nigerian appearances at the inaugural championship, which brought together elite athletes from around the world in a new competition format.
Nigeria’s mixed 4x100m relay team, however, was unable to compete after visa difficulties disrupted the travel plans of three members of the squad. 
Athletics Federation of Nigeria President Tonobok Okowa praised the contingent, describing the team as a young group that showed courage and determination despite the challenges surrounding its participation.
“The team to Budapest is a young one. I am very proud of the athletes and the way they represented Nigeria in Budapest.” 
Okowa added that the performances had strengthened his confidence in the emerging talents within Nigerian athletics, while highlighting the competitive spirit displayed by the athletes on the global stage.
“They showed courage, determination and the right competitive spirit despite the circumstances surrounding the team’s participation,” he said. 
The World Athletics Ultimate Championship featured a $10 million total prize fund, making it the richest prize purse in the history of athletics. Individual event winners received $150,000, while runners-up earned $75,000 and third-place finishers collected $40,000. 
Nigeria’s Budapest campaign therefore ended with five athletes contributing to the $130,000 haul, with Amusan’s silver medal standing as the country’s highest individual finish at the championship.
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