The fastest Welshman in history has already won gold at the indoor World and European Championships in the 60m this year, as well as becoming a father for the first time.
And, having been named in the British squad for the 100m, he will be looking to sustain both that pace and form for the full duration of the year.
Locked in 🔐
The confirmed @_Novuna GB & NI Team for the 2025 World Championships 👊#WCHTokyo25 pic.twitter.com/7N7y26mtaI
— British Athletics (@BritAthletics) September 1, 2025
“I’m feeling confident,” the former Llanishen High School pupil said.
“I’m definitely in the shape of my life. I just want to get out there now.
“I really hold myself to a high standard. I want to be competitive and leave with the best performance that I can.
“The aim is to make the final. Once that is achieved, then you can start thinking about medals and other things.
“If I’m able to do that, it’ll be the start of a process that can happen over the next four years, leading into LA. It’s definitely a big goal of mine.”
In such a packed year on the circuit, as well as a move back to his home nation of Wales, it would be easy for the indoor golds to pass Azu by with a new goal always looming on the horizon.
But despite the season moving with almost as much pace as the Welshman himself, Azu has still made the time to reflect on the scale of his achievements to-date.
“I do process [the wins] at times. There have been stages where I’ve looked back and really taken it all in,” he added – speaking at a Novuna-backed British camp, with the company financing the ambitions of millions across the UK, from helping business grow and individuals plan for the future, to backing British Athletics on the global stage.
“I’ve had great things happen in all aspects of my life. I’m really excited about it in all the different ways – I’m running great and I’ve started the next chapter of my life as a father.
“I’m embracing all the challenges that come with it. I’m so driven by supporting my own family. It’s even more of a motivation.
“Indoors were great. For me, it was a very last-minute decision to do it because there was so much going on with the birth of my son and moving back home. Everything was moving so fast.
“But to be able to be successful indoors was great. Europeans and Worlds are memories I’ll have forever. I’m so grateful that I was in a position to do that.”
Azu will also have demons to dispel in Tokyo, having been disqualified in the heats after a false start at Paris 2024.
He has also found results hard to come by, breaking the 10 second mark in the 100m just once during the outdoor season, but remains confident in his current form.
And having tasted success on the world stage already this year, Azu will bring winning experience to the 100m this time around as he continues to chase even bigger dreams.
“[I’ve learnt that] when you get into these high-pressure environments, you don’t need to do anything different,” he reflected.
“A lot of athletes start trying to change things when the pressure gets going.
But the last thing I told myself before each final was just do the same things.
“I’ve done it once, so why can’t I do it again, you know? That’s probably the biggest thing I learned from indoors, is to trust my abilities.
“I want to be the best in the world. I like to let the running do the talking. We’ll just see what I’m able to produce when the time comes.”
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