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Tobi Amusan Facts – Things You Didn’t Know About Nigeria’s First Athletics World-Record Holder
Tobi Amusan has been the name on many lips after she bolted to victory at the just concluded World Athletics Championship at Hayward Field, Eugene, Oregon. Amusan set a new world record during the semi-finals of the 100 hurdles race at 12.12 seconds. She would then win gold in the finals clocking an even faster 12. 06 seconds but according to the rules, this did not become a new world record as the race was deemed to be wind-assisted.
Amusan becomes the first Nigerian to ever win gold at the prestigious World Athletics Championship event. She broke a 6-year world record held by America’s Keni Harrison by 0.8 seconds. Amusan could not help but show emotion at the very moving medal ceremony as the Nigerian national anthem played.
“When I watched the record, I was like ‘Whoa, who did that?’” a victorious Amusan told the media. “I believe in my abilities but I was not expecting a world record at these championships,” Amusan also said, adding, that her “goal is always just to execute well and get the win.” For her setting a new world record, Amusan won a $100,000 bonus.
The former record holder, Harrison took to Twitter to congratulate Amusan writing, “Congrats to@Evaglobal01
records are meant to be broken & you smashed mine. Glad to see the record gets to stay in the Adidas fam.” In a different tweet, Harrison added; “I appreciate all the love and support!!. Mentally and physically I couldn’t have been more prepared, those wood hurdles are unforgiving !!. The bar has been raised and that’s exciting.”
Tobi Amusan’s journey to the top has not been without hurdles, literally. She spoke to the BBC of a time when she nearly quit athletics in Nigeria due to the flawed system of selecting athletes for events. However, she was encouraged to continue following advice from some coaches that she should jump ship from regular sprints to the less-attractive hurdles. Here are some worth-knowing facts about the new world champ.
Tobi Amusan Facts
1. Tobi was born Oluwatobiloba Ayomide Amusan on April 23, 1997, in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State to parents who were school teachers. She is the last born child in a family of three siblings.
2. Amusan inherited her artistic genes from her parents, while her dad was part of the volleyball state team, her mother ran the track up to her university days.
3. Despite being athletes themselves, Amusan was raised by her parents to prioritize education over athletics. Her mother had a bad experience with the Nigerian authorities when she was left to tend to herself after sustaining an injury, thus Amusan was advised to diversify her career interests. Regardless, her mother still supported her passion.
4. Amusan’s athletics career began in her secondary school at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Ijebu Ode where she played football and ran the track.
5. Amusan won a bevy of local athletics championships which opened the doors to bigger competitions. Her first major stage was at the 2013 African Youth Championships in Warri.
6. She won silver at the 2014 African Youth Games in Botswana, and won gold at the African U20 at Junior Athletic Championships in Ethiopia in 2015. Her big break came at the All-African Games in Brazzaville, Congo where she won gold in the 100 m hurdles, her first senior win.
7. Amusan earned a scholarship to attend The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) where she broke several collegiate records.
Read Also: Nigerian Olympian Blessing Okagbare Slapped With a 10-year Ban
8. Tobi Amusan represented Nigeria at the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil but did not win any medal.
9. After a quiet two years without any media, Tobi Amusan returned to winning ways at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia where she ran the relay and hurdle race.
10. She represented Nigerian in the hurdles at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games where she came 4th.
11. Amusan’s road to the world record at Eugene began in June 2022 when she set a new African record at the All Nigeria Championships while preparing for the upcoming international athletic events.
12. Tobi Amusan has since 2016 been coached by Lacena Golding Clarke from Jamaica.
13. Amusan is sponsored by the German sportswear brand, Adidas.
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