He was born in Akure and is a cousin of Falilat Ogunkoya.[citation needed] He improved his personal bests from 10.43 seconds in 1995 to 10.15 seconds in April 1996 in Makurdi, at the 10th National Sports Festival, to 9.97 seconds in July 1997 in Formia.[1][2] He thereby became the youngest sprinter to have broken the 10-second barrier at 19 years, 197 days, a record broken by Yohan Blake (19 years, 196 days).[3] Ogunkoya stated that "it is natural to be aiming at the world record".[2] His coach was Tony Osheku.[4]
He also set personal bests of 20.50 seconds in the 200 metres, achieved in July 1997 in Nice, and 6.52 seconds in the 60 metres, achieved in February 1998 in Budapest.[1]
Later career and life
Ogunkoya ran in 10.27 seconds as a season's best in 1999. In July 2000, he ran in 10.23 seconds in Lagos.[1] In the same year he was named for the Olympic squad, but fell through with an eighth and last place in his 100 metres heat.[9] He moved to Prague where he recorded a 10.72 second race in June 2003.[1]
Ogunkoya's has recently[when?] moved his career up by training young sprinters in Ondo State and has become a motivation hero leading the less privileged and young boys and girls for a better sport career. Although the death of his mother took a toll on him, after few months the hero bounce back to encourage others.[citation needed]
