Tobi Amusan: “I saw it coming…”

EUGENE- With an apparently insatiable appetite for success, Nigerian sprint hurdler Tobi Amusan had predicted that she would one day break the world record.

True to her word, the crack Nigerian hurdler left her race adversaries floundering in the 100m hurdles final which was the talk of the town on Day 10 of the World Athletics Championship in Oregon, Eugene.

The 25-year old, left the whole world in shock after setting a new world record in the semis, clocking 12.12. Amusan became the second Nigerian sprint hurdler to win a medal at the Championships after Glory Alozie took silver medal in Seville, Spain in 1999.

 

And after her stellar run in Oregon, Amusan quipped: “I saw it coming.”

Oregon was Amusan’s 3rd appearance at the World Championships. She was a semifinalist in London 2017 and settled for 4th in Doha 2019. “When God says it’s your time, it’s your time. Every time I went out there and put my 100 percent, it wasn’t enough at every championships, so 100 percent this time round yielded a world record and gold medal” Amusan reflected on the momentous feat which handed Nigeria its first gold medal at the World championships.

The Nigerian was thankful to her Coach and support staff after a rigorous training program that culminated in the Oregon scalp. “She’s (coach) been my sole strength and the people I have on my support system, I mean, they have been very supportive, and trusting myself made things a lot easier on the track.”

It was double celebration for Team Nigeria as Amusan’s best friend Ese Brume leaped 7.02m to win the women’s long jump Silver and indeed Nigeria’s second medal on the last day of the prestigious Championships.

Ese was all smiles: “It’s been an amazing progression and at first, I was leading and then Malaika came and won the gold. When Tobi broke the world record in the semis, I was in the call room rejoicing. It’s a wonderful night for all of us. I now want to win a gold medal in Birmingham.”
Alex ISABOKE