Cameroon’s Eseme storms to 100m Commonwealth gold

Emmanuel Eseme of Cameroon achieved a historic milestone at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, clinching the men's 100m gold medal with a record-breaking performance. Eseme's triumph marks Cameroon's first-ever podium finish in the prestigious men's 100m event.

Competing under challenging rainy conditions in Scotland, Eseme crossed the finish line in 9.83 seconds, shattering the previous Commonwealth Games record held by Ato Boldon since 1998. The Cameroonian sprinter expressed surprise at his own time, acknowledging the difficult weather but emphasizing that all athletes faced the same conditions.

Eseme's victory places him among an elite group of African athletes to win the 100m title at the Commonwealth Games, following South Africa's Akani Simbine and Kenya's Ferdinand Omanyala. His achievement further solidifies Africa's growing presence and competitiveness in world athletics.

The final race featured intense competition, with Australia's Lachlan Kennedy earning the silver medal and Nigeria's Kanyinsola Ajayi taking bronze. Kennedy's performance also represented a significant achievement for Australian athletics, marking their first medal in this event at the Games. The event has added another memorable chapter to the history of athletics.

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It was an incredible race! I was surprised by the time I achieved. I didn’t want the weather to become an obstacle because everyone was competing in the same conditions, so I couldn’t complain. If I complain, it means everyone complains, so I just wanted to have as few complaints as possible.