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Harry Aikines-Aryeetey – Olympian, Gladiator Nitro, and More

Oliver Jack Thompson Howard • 2026-08-01 • Reviewed by Hanna Berg




Harry Aikines-Aryeetey: Olympian, Gladiators ‘Nitro’, and the Facts You Want to Know

Harry Aikines-Aryeetey: Olympian, Gladiators ‘Nitro’, and the Facts You Want to Know

Harry Aikines-Aryeetey is a name that appears across two distinct worlds: elite sprinting and primetime television. As a former Olympic sprinter for Great Britain and the explosive character Nitro on the BBC’s revived Gladiators, his career has taken an unusual and highly public turn. Yet for many, the most pressing questions are about his personal life: Is he married? Who is his partner? And what is the story behind his athletic achievements?

Born on 29 August 1988 in Carshalton, Surrey, Aikines-Aryeetey is now 37 years old. He rose through junior ranks with historic speed, winning both the 100m and 200m at the World Youth Championships in 2005. His senior career included appearances at the Rio 2016 Olympics and relay medals at major championships. Recently, he has become a household name as Nitro, the lightning-fast Gladiator.

Below, we separate verifiable facts from online speculation and provide a comprehensive profile based on reliable sources.

Is Harry Aikines-Aryeetey Married? Who Is His Partner?

Harry Aikines-Aryeetey at a Glance

  • Born: 29 August 1988 (age 37)
  • Nationality: British (English)
  • Claim to Fame: Sprinter, Olympic athlete, Gladiators ‘Nitro’
  • Personal Best (100m): 9.97 seconds

Key Insights

  • Harry is married to Lauren Cooper, with the wedding reported in 2019 (either June or October depending on the source).
  • He has a daughter named Aubreé-Isla; some reports mention a second child, but the most consistent public information points to one daughter.
  • His moniker ‘Nitro’ was chosen to reflect his explosive speed on the Gladiators show.
  • He is not a twin – a common misconception with no reliable evidence.
  • His shift from athletics to television was partly motivated by a desire to spend more time with his family.
  • Official athletic records list his 100m personal best as 9.97 seconds, placing him among the fastest British sprinters in history.
  • His net worth is not publicly disclosed; estimates vary and are speculative.
Key Facts
Fact Detail
Full Name Harry Aikines-Aryeetey
Age (as of 2026) 37
Birth Date 29 August 1988
Height 1.83 m (6 ft)
100m Personal Best 9.97 seconds (official record)
200m Personal Best 20.46 seconds
Olympic Appearances Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016
Major Relay Medals Bronze (2009 Worlds), Gold (2010 Europeans), Silver (2014 Commonwealths)
Gladiators Character Nitro
Marital Status Married to Lauren Cooper
Children One daughter, Aubreé-Isla (some sources mention a second)
Residence England (specific location not publicly disclosed)

What Is Harry Aikines-Aryeetey’s 100m Personal Best Time?

Harry Aikines-Aryeetey’s official 100m personal best stands at 9.97 seconds, a time he achieved in 2016. This places him among the top British sprinters ever, though he never reached an individual Olympic final. His 200m personal best is 20.46 seconds.

He made history at the World Youth Championships in 2005 by winning both the 100m and 200m, a rare double. At senior level, his greatest successes came in relay events. He anchored Great Britain’s 4x100m team to a bronze medal at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin and gold at the 2010 European Championships in Barcelona.

Note on career shift

Recent interviews suggest Aikines-Aryeetey stepped back from professional athletics around 2018 to focus on television and family life. He has not officially announced retirement, but his competitive appearances have ceased.

Did Harry Aikines-Arye

Additional sources

inrikesposten.se

Oliver Jack Thompson Howard

About the author

Oliver Jack Thompson Howard

We publish daily fact-based reporting with continuous editorial review.