• Ghanaian Champion Sprinter Benjamin Azamati dreams of becoming an influential human being for his country 

Currently, the world’s leading runners are the ones who run with our own Yupun Abeykoon. Benjamin Azamati is one such player who competed as Yupun’s opponent in many of those races. The Daily Morning Sports was able to have a chat with the Ghanaian athlete who won 4th place in the 100m event at the last Birmingham Commonwealth Games, competing in Yupun’s adjacent lane.

Below are excerpts from the interview. 

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Benjamin Azamati-Kwaku, born 14 January 1998, is a Ghanaian sprinter who currently competes for ASICS Global. He made history by breaking a 22-year national record held by Leo Myles Mills on 26 March 2021 in Texas, clocking 9.97 seconds to qualify for the Tokyo Summer Olympics.

Azamati was born on 14 January 1998 to John and Faustina Azamati in Akim Oda, Ghana. His preferred sport growing up was football, but he transitioned to athletics while attending Presbyterian Boys’ Senior High School in Accra, where his running talent was discovered by his Physical Education (P.E.) masters (Nathaniel Botchway, Gideon Dukplah, and Kofi Dadzie).

At 21 years old, he emerged as an Olympic hopeful for Ghana in the sprints after running 100 m in 10.02 seconds HT at the 2019 Ghana’s Fastest Human competition. He won a gold medal in the 4x100 m relay at the 2019 African Games in Rabat and won the GUSA 100 m on two occasions.

In 2021, he improved the 100 m national record to 9.97 seconds and his 200 m personal best to 20.13 seconds. On 25 March 2022, Azamati improved his own 100 m national record to an early world lead of 9.90 seconds in Texas, USA, making him the joint 4th fastest collegiate of all time with Trayvon Bromell. This mark also placed him within the top 50 all-time 100 m sprint performances, with only six Africans running faster on the continent at the time.

How did you choose athletics?

I was into soccer at first since that is the main sport in Ghana. I started track late in my high school years, and I felt it was more individual, so I decided to focus on it and see where that takes me.

Being an athlete comes with a lot of sacrifices. Did you dream of becoming a sprinter during your school days?

I thought of being a footballer until the switch. So being a footballer was my dream, but we never know what the universe has for us.

You came forward as a sprinter and are currently a strong athlete in the African region. Tell me about your team and coach.

I have a solid team around me, people who really understand me and want the best for me. It is a very close group and are God-fearing people. I am blessed to be managed by them.

Strong people are born for sprinting events in your region. In a small island like ours, young athletes will like to know how you faced challenges in your career. Can you tell us about those?

I took every opportunity I had to run golden and wanted to make the most out of it. I didn’t joke with any, as there were just a few chances for me back home. I stayed dedicated, disciplined, and determined to take track as my career and not let anything come in my way or hinder me.

Yupun Abeykoon is fastest sprinter in our country. What do you think of him?

Yupun is a great competitor, and a calm and receptive person. I have a great relationship with him. I see him inspiring the youth back home in Sri Lanka and I wish him well.

What advice would you give to young athletes in a South Asian country like ours?

My advice would be to make the most of the opportunities they are given and focus on the main goal, knowing that the best thing to happen in their lives has not happened yet. They should keep their dreams alive and work towards them!

What was your favorite competition in your life?

My favorite competition would be the Olympics, though I didn’t do so well. I loved the atmosphere and how everything was organized.

What memories do you have of Sri Lanka? Would you like to visit Sri Lanka one day?

Yes, I’d love to visit Sri Lanka. My first roommate in the United States was from Sri Lanka, and he holds the record for long jump in Sri Lanka. His name is Dhanushka Sandaruwan. So yes, I have fond memories. 

How do you spend your leisure time?

I spend my leisure time playing games on my phone or my PlayStation. Either E-Football or FIFA.

Would you like to share your dream with us?

The dream is to inspire people back home. That’s going to make me feel fulfilled. I want to be like a tree that bears fruits for people to eat from. Aside from track, I aspire to be an animal nutritionist as well. I love animals.

If you want to remember someone who helped you in your game, now is your chance.

My family has been of great help to me towards achieving my dreams. They believed in me and didn’t let me quit track and field. Also, every coach – I have passed through their hands and they have been of great importance to me. Nathaniel, Elorm, Amuzu, Gideon, Dadzie, Segura, Stewart, Gibson, just to name a few, have all been so instrumental in my life, and I am thankful for them. Also, my agent and my manager, Derrick and Dave, who have also been blessings to me; I am where I am now thanks to them!