Jeremiah Azu Claims European Gold Days After Becoming a Father

Jeremiah Azu is determined to build on his first major senior title which came just days after the Welsh sprint star became a father.

Azu – who has returned to Cardiff to re-unite with his first coach, Helen James – took gold at the European Athletics Indoor Championships, shortly after welcoming his newborn son.

The 23-year-old – who became the first Welsh athlete to run under 10 seconds for the 100m last year - stormed to 60m gold for Great Britain in Apeldoorn, in the Netherlands, setting a personal best of 6.49 seconds. 

Sweden’s Henrik Larsson took silver in 6.52, while Azu’s Great Britain temmate Andrew Robertson joined Azu on the podium with bronze after clocking 6.55—his fastest time in eight years.

Azu’s triumph came at the end of a whirlwind week, as he had to leave home shortly after the birth of his son, Azaire. 

He credited his partner, Terri, for supporting him through the momentous occasion.

“I had my son a week ago and then I had to leave,” he said. 

“It was a bit of an up and down, but it's part of the story and the sport, we've got to be away. I'm grateful to my partner that she allowed me to come out here and get some business done.

"I've been saying to my family and friends that 2025 is going to be the best year of my life. It's great to get it started like this, and I'm excited for the future.”

Azu’s gold medal was the first for the British team at the championships, adding to bronze medals won by Revee Walcott Nolan in the 1,500m and the mixed 4x400m relay team.

READ MORE: Jeremiah Azu Aims for Brotherly Boost now he is Back Home in Wales

The Cardiff Athletics star had been in outstanding form all day. He set the fastest time in the heats and then stormed through his semi-final, recording a European-leading time of 6.52 seconds. 

That set the stage for an electrifying final, where seven of the nine runners had clocked between 6.52 and 6.58 seconds this season—making for an intensely competitive showdown.

Right from the gun, Azu exploded out of the blocks, taking an early lead over Spain’s Crespi and the Netherlands’ Afrifa. 

He continued to pull away, leaning at the line to shave another 0.03 seconds off his personal best, securing victory in 6.49 seconds. 

His win made him the first British man to claim the European 60m title since Richard Kilty in 2017.

Azu added: “This morning I felt a bit flat before the semi-final then I saw my family and we prayed. 

“After I left them I was thinking, where would I be without these guys? They lifted me up.

“Once I saw them it just shut down any doubt, I walked into that warm-up area and felt amazing just from seeing them. 
“They mean the world to me. I am such a family man – I wouldn’t be here without them.

“We are just scratching the surface – this is only the beginning. We have so much more to go.”