Tax Returns and Track Records: Meet Eugene Amo-Dadzie, The World’s Fastest Accountant

Sprinting into the record books and balancing ledgers all at once, Eugene Amo-Dadzie has surely done the impossible. Who said accountants are boring?

At the ripe old age of 30, Amo-Dadzie is causing quite the stir in the British sprinting world. He only took up athletics at 26 but has set the track ablaze with his recent 9.93-second performance in Graz, Austria. That time has not only crowned him the fastest 100m runner in Europe this year but also placed him fourth on the British all-time list. Not bad at all for a full-time accountant managing his sporting career without any sponsorships or funding. “If you know anyone at Nike, Adidas, New Balance, Puma, Asics or anywhere else then send them my way,” he said.

It was just another Sunday morning for Eugene Amo-Dadzie, who rightly labels himself as the ‘world’s fastest accountant’. Returning from a life-altering trip to Austria late the night before, Amo-Dadzie was surprised to find the UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) officers on his doorstep, awaiting a urine sample. His response? “As soon as I saw their credentials I was buzzing,” he told BBC Sport. “It’s validation of your achievement.

While Amo-Dadzie’s athletic journey has been one for the books, it began under the most casual of circumstances. It was in the summer of 2018, when he and his lifelong friend stumbled across a local track meeting in east London after playing football. His friend, pointing at the sprinters, blurted out, “You could put a pair of spikes on and beat these guys. Why haven’t you tried this properly before?” Amo-Dadzie had no real answer. 

While distractions of student life at the University of Nottingham pushed athletics down his priority list, the comment sparked something within him. Deciding to give his speed a real shot, he joined the Woodford Green Athletics Club which ultimately led to him racing against Olympians like Adam Gemili and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey in the British Championships.

With each passing year, Amo-Dadzie kept bettering his record. From a debut season best of 10.55, he whittled down his time to 10.20 in 2021, and further down to 10.05 the following year. A defining moment came in March when he earned his first British vest at the European Indoor Championships, reaching the 60m semi-finals. But what truly astounded everyone was his breakthrough race in Graz, where he ran a blistering 100m in almost entirely windless conditions.

Some sceptics raised eyebrows at his sudden rise in the world of sprinting. But Amo-Dadzie remains unfazed. “There are always people who are sceptical of great things that people achieve,” he stated confidently when interviewed by the BBC. “If you know my story and have been following me then it makes sense.”

Currently, Amo-Dadzie is back to balancing work as a senior management accountant for a property company with rigorous training sessions. He is also eyeing a spot on the British team for the World Championships in August.

Amo-Dadzie’s unique journey is what makes him such an intriguing figure. “I very much enjoy that I have a different story. I still refer to myself as an accountant that happens to operate in the world of track and field.”

Image credit: Eugene Amo-Dadzie (Facebook)