Jona Efoloko

Jona Efoloko
2022 in Munich
Personal information
NationalityGreat Britain
Born (1999-09-23) 23 September 1999 (age 25)
Kinshasa
Sport
SportTrack and Field
Event(s)100 metres, 200 metres
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)60m: 6.63 (London, 2023)
100m: 10.21 (Clermont, 2024)
200m: 20.44 (Clermont, 2024)
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Great Britain
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Eugene 4×100 m relay
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 2022 Munich 4×100 m relay
World U20 Championships
Gold medal – first place 2018 Tampere 200 m
European U20 Championships
Silver medal – second place 2017 Grosseto 200 m
European Youth Championships
Gold medal – first place 2016 Tbilisi 200m
Representing  England
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 2022 Birmingham 4×100 m relay

Jona Efoloko (born 23 September 1999) is a British sprinter. A former European youth (U18) and World Junior (U20) champion in 200 metres, In 2022, he was part of the Great Britain relay team that won European and Commonwealth gold, and World Championship bronze, in the men's 4 x 100 metres relay.

Early life

Efokolo was born in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo before relocating to Britain, where he became a member of the Manchester Sale Harriers.[1] He studied at the at the University of East London.[2]

Career

He won the European U18 Championships 200m in 2016 and won silver in the same event in 2017.[3] He won the 200m title at the 2018 IAAF World Junior Championships in Tampere, setting his personal best in 20.48.[4]

He won medals in three senior 4x100m relay competitions in 2022, winning gold for England at his home Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, gold for Britain at the European Championships in Munich and bronze at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon.[2]

He was chosen to represent Great Britain at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest in August 2023.[5]

In April 2024, he set new personal best times of 10.21 seconds for the 100 metres, and 20.44 seconds for the 200 metres, in Clermont, Florida.[6][7] That month, he was selected as part of the British team for the 2024 World Athletics Relays in Nassau, Bahamas.[8] In May 2024, he was selected to run the 200 metres and 4x100m relay for Britain at the 2024 European Athletics Championships in Rome.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Jona Efoloko". British Athletics.
  2. ^ a b "UEL sprinter Jona Efoloko aims for gold again". Voice. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  3. ^ "Athlete Profile". www.thepowerof10.info.
  4. ^ "Talented teen Jona Efoloko on track for Tokyo 2020". TASS. 15 August 2018.
  5. ^ "GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND SQUAD SELECTED FOR THE 2023 WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPS". Britishathletics.org.uk. 28 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  6. ^ "Athletics Elite Invitational". World Athletics. 20 April 2024. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Athletics Elite Invitational". World Athletics. 20 April 2024. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  8. ^ "Ujah returns to British squad for world relays". BBC Sport. 11 April 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  9. ^ "KATARINA JOHNSON-THOMPSON NAMED IN STRONG GB & NI TEAM FOR EUROPEANS ROME 2024". British Athletics. 28 May 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2024.