About
I'M DUAN.
Born in Montreal, raised in Ajax, Ontario. A kid who fell into track in grade 10, and never looked back.
I did not grow up planning to be a sprinter. In grade 10 at Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School my gym teacher noticed me during the class fitness test and kept telling me to come out for track. I held off, then I finally said yes. My first race was a 60m. After that race, the rest is history. I have not looked back since.
Two years at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas, where I earned an Associate's degree, then a scholarship to The Ohio State University. At Ohio State I became a Big Ten 4×100m record holder, an NCAA All-American, and a 2018 Big Ten Outdoor Champion. I graduated with a B.A. in Communications.
Since 2018 I have been coached by Charles Allen, training out of the Athletics Canada East Hub in Toronto with my training group, Speed With Attitude. I race under the Speed Academy banner. In 2024 I ran the Paris Olympics through a torn labrum and a sports hernia. In 2025 I was crowned Canadian 100m Champion and won World Relays gold in Guangzhou. In 2026 I added World Relays silver in Gaborone and my first Commonwealth Games medal, silver in Glasgow.
The journey
From Ajax To The World
2012 – 2014 · High School
Notre Dame Catholic, Ajax
Where it started. My gym teacher noticed me during the class fitness test in grade 10 in 2012 and kept telling me to come out for track. I finally said yes. My first race was a 60m, and after that race, the rest is history.
The next year I broke my ankle and missed the entire season. I came back in grade 11, and at 16 I joined Speed Academy under Olympian Tony Sharpe. That injury taught me early that the comeback is part of the sport.
2014 – 2016 · Junior College
Coffeyville Community College
Two years in Kansas, an Associate's degree, and the work that earned a full scholarship to The Ohio State University. Junior college is where a lot of athletes get lost. For me it was where the work got serious.
2017 – 2019 · NCAA
Ohio State
A Buckeye sprinter. I competed in 2017 and 2018. I became a Big Ten 4×100m record holder, an NCAA All-American, and the 2018 Big Ten Outdoor Champion. I graduated with a B.A. in Communications.
2018 – Present · Team Canada
The Maple Leaf
After graduating from Ohio State I came home and started training with Charles Allen. Years later he is still my coach. We train at the Athletics Canada East Hub in Toronto with my group, Speed With Attitude, and I race under the Speed Academy banner.
The Paris Olympics, a World Relays gold with Team Canada, and a Canadian championship later, the kid from Ajax who walked onto a track in grade 10 is now chasing 9.84.
The receipts
Proof of Work
Every medal, every milestone, every personal best. Documented.
Asemota Crowned Canadian 100m Champion
CBC Sports, 2025
Canada Strikes Gold at Inaugural World Relays Finals
Athletics Canada, 2025
From Paris injury to Canadian 100m Champion
Sportsnet, 2025