Tobi-Amusan Biography: The Nigerian Woman to Win Historic World Athletics Championship

About Tobi-Amusan Biography: The Nigerian Woman to Win Historic World Athletics Championship

About Tobi-Amusan.

Amusan’s ascendancy into athletics royalty had been foreseen years prior, with different coaches marvelling at her lightning-quick box of talent. However, it has been a rugged climb to the top rather than a quick dash for the fast legs of the Nigerian.

And like many Nigerians, Amusan started her sports journey as a football player and she just loved running around. They took her to a track coach and in competing against supposedly coached athletes, she came first. That was how her athletics career took off in Ijebu-Ode.

Two years later, there is no kidding about the fact that Tobi Amusan is a world champion and a record breaker. If not for a tailwind of 2.5m/s, we would talk about a historical event that may never be replicated. One thing that comes through is that Tobi Amusan always believed she could become the best in the world in the 100m Hurdles, and eventually, her belief became a fact.

About Tobi-Amusan Birth

But Tobi Amusan probably did not fully digest the magnitude of the feats she had spurned on the night until the patriotic tunes of Nigeria’s national anthem blazoned during the medal presentation. The 25-year-old’s face was wet with tears as she sang “the labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain.”

Tobi Amusan became a hurdler by chance, according to World Athletics. At age 13 or 14, she went to a meet intending to compete in the flat sprints and long jump. But by the time she arrived, the only event left was a hurdles race. She won that race, and the rest — especially Sunday night — is now history.

Born on April 23, 1997, at Ijebu Ode in Ogun State, the 1.56metres height enterprising athlete had her education at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Ijebu-Ode before proceeding to the University of Texas at El Paso in the United States Of America (USA).

Barely 24 hours after terrorists, who hijacked the Kaduna-bound train released a video, where they threatened to kidnap President Muhammadu Buhari and Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, insecurity fears heightened at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), leading to the immediate closure of all unity schools in Abuja.

The World Athletics Championship.

Alia Armstrong, who won the NCAA title at Hayward Field earlier this summer, returned to Eugene for her first World Championships and finished just off the podium in fourth place in a wind-aided 12.31. Armstrong also ran a personal best of 12.43 to win the second heat of the semifinals.

Former world record-holder Keni Harrison, who clocked 12.27 to finish behind Amusan in the semifinals, was in contention in the first half of the final but then faded and jogged over the line in last place. She was later disqualified for knocking down a hurdle with her hands.

After nine days of track and field events on the Hayward Field in Oregon, Nigeria was battling a drought of medals at the 2022 World Athletic Championship. Results were not going in tandem with the expectations and quality of talents of the Nigerian contingents. Several events completed, no podium finish and little excitement. But everything changed when Tobi Amusan lined up for the semi-final of the women’s 100 meters hurdles on the final day of the tournament.

Twelve months later, in June 2022 in Benin at the All Nigeria Championships, which were the qualifiers for the World and the Commonwealth Games, Amusan broke the African record. She revealed her mental strength had improved in the execution of her races. It was a sneak preview of what was to come in Oregon. #momusicdate

“The goal was to come out and to win this gold,” Amusan said. “I just did it. Honestly, I believe in my abilities but I was not expecting a world record at these championships. You know, the goal is always just to execute well and get the win. So the world record is a bonus. I knew I had it in me but I could not believe it when I saw it on the screen after the semis. But it was just a matter of time.”

Two years later, she was part of the contingent for the 2015 African Youth Athletics Championship and she won the gold medal with 14.26 seconds in the women’s 100 meters hurdles. It was a huge feat for the teenager but it would cost her a potential scholarship in the US.

However, she funnelled her disappointment into a three-month training for the 2015 African Games in Brazzaville, Congo. She went into the competition ranked distant 10th. Amusan would then break the African U20 record twice as she ran 13.15 to win the gold medal in the women’s 100 meters hurdles. The school came calling again, this time with ferocity and desperation.