South Korean sprinter Namadi Joel Jin eyes Asian Games gold, aims to break 10-second barrier

South Korean track and field sprinter Namadi Joel Jin is setting his sights on gold at the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. The 20-year-old, who competes for Yecheon County Office, aims to win both the 100m and the 4x100m relay events. He also harbors a strong ambition to become the first South Korean to break the 10-second mark in the 100m, a feat that would surpass the current national record of 10.07 seconds set by Kim Kuk-young in 2017.

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The Asian Games have been the stage I've dreamed of since I first started track and field.

Namadi has shown remarkable progress, recently setting a personal best of 10.13 seconds at the 2026 Niigata Athletics Championships. He has improved his personal best three times this season alone. Despite his achievements, Namadi remains grounded, constantly reflecting on his perceived shortcomings. "I am still very much lacking. I want to prove myself more," he stated. His primary focus for improvement is his start, which he admits is slow, and he is working on enhancing his balance and leg strength.

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Of course, the goal is gold in both the 100m and 400m. Given the attention I'm receiving, I want to surpass my personal best and be the first in Korea to break the 9-second barrier in the 100m.

He will compete in the 100m and the 4x100m relay at the Asian Games. The men's 4x100m relay team, which includes teammates Bivesa Daniel Ghasama, Seo Min-jun, and Kim Si-on, is also aiming for gold. South Korea has previously won two bronze medals in this event at the Asian Games. Namadi sees his teammate Bivesa, who is also a competitor in the 100m, as a valuable partner, stating, "We can grow together by competing. I want to win together in the 400m, and I want to win the 100m."

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The biggest achievement in track and field is the record. I feel a thrill every time I break a record.

Born in South Korea to a Nigerian father and a Korean mother, Namadi began his athletic journey in elementary school. He overcame a heel injury in middle school to set high school records and win numerous youth competitions. He made his senior debut in April last year and has been rapidly developing. He finds the thrill and tension of sprinting captivating and feels energized after a good race. While naturally introverted, he transforms into a competitive athlete on the track. He draws inspiration from artists like Pop Smoke and dreams of surpassing his idol, Noah Lyles, a gold medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Interestingly, Namadi also appeared as a child actor named Blackkie in the popular 2016 drama "Descendants of the Sun."

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I am still very much lacking. I want to prove myself more.