Harry Aikines-Aryeetey was born on 29 August 1988 in Carshalton, London, England, to Ghanaian parents. He showed exceptional athletic ability from a young age and became one of Britain’s top sprint talents.

He attended Greenshaw High School in Sutton and rose to prominence in athletics, winning global youth titles and later competing for Team GB, including at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Aikines-Aryeetey achieved major success early, becoming the first athlete to win both 100m and 200m at the World Youth Championships in 2005, earning BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year.

He transitioned into television in the 2020s, gaining popularity as “Nitro” in the BBC One reboot of Gladiators. He also hosts the spin-off Gladiators: Epic Pranks on CBBC where he leads playful behind-the-scenes pranks.

He lives in London with his wife and daughter and continues working in media, entertainment, and sport-related projects.