Tobi Amusan

thumb|Tobi Amusan Oluwatobiloba Ayomide Amusan (born 23 April, 1997) is a Nigerian track and field athlete who specialises in the 100 metres hurdles and also competes as a sprinter. She is the current World, Commonwealth and African champion in the 100 m hurdles, as well as, the record holder in the three competitions. She became Nigeria’s first-ever world champion and a world record holder in athletics at the Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, smashing the former record held by Jasmine Camacho-Quinn. She is also the current Diamond league champion in the 100 metres hurdles having won the final in 12.33 seconds (+1.8m/s) achieving a winning streak in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Quotes I was the ‘almost girl’. I got fourth, fourth, fourth. Now I finally did it. The goal was to come out and to win this gold. 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. It has been a long journey. It was one of the biggest milestones of my career; winning that championship set me up for who I am today. After London, I learned that the fact that I was in the mix, knowing I was capable of doing stuff at this age – I was just 20 – and being ranked in the top eight makes me confident that when I get my technique right, my speed right, and get a bit stronger, I’ll be fine. I don’t think there is a track and field event which can teach humility quite like the sprint hurdles. You can be the fastest in the field but one mistake can spell the end for your race. A hurdler should never go into any race with any level of complacency or arrogance. It teaches you to be humble. Amusan: the accidental hurdler who became the world record-holder, July 25 2022 All I was focused on was crossing the line first. I was not planning to run fast but just wanted to complete my quota of competitions for the year as per contract requirements and to gain points and improve my world ranking, so I wasn’t expecting anything special. I knew it was a competitive field and it’s all about getting out of the blocks because I know that is my weakest part of the race, so my plan was to get out and go. Once I get out, I trust my top end speed and God to carry me through, so my emphasis was just on getting to the line first, no emphasis on breaking records. But on getting across the line, and then after my little celebration, I heard the commentator saying: ‘That’s a new area record.’ And I thought: ‘Oh, is that me?’ Then I looked up and I was like ‘okay’. It wasn’t that I was overly excited about the record; I was more excited that I won the final, but I’m happy to have also ticked the record off my bucket list. It’s great, it is a great feeling. Looking back, I did not win a medal at the Olympics. It was a very challenging time for me afterwards, but I never gave up, and I came out here and I was like, if I did not get a medal in Tokyo, the least I can do is to get a Diamond League Trophy – I did just that. I wanted to break the African record back at home in Nigeria on home soil. I knew what I had done a week before I came for the trials. The week before, I remember running a 12.3 and 12.44 so it was like: ‘You’re ready. Physically I was ready, but mentally I wasn’t, so I think my mental part let me down. I’m moving forward positively. It’s another lesson, and by the time I come out of this, I will come back stronger. That trophy is for my mother because I could remember after the Olympics, she fell terribly ill because she was crying so badly, I’m happy I gave her one reason to smile this year because she’s been my number one pillar. She’s up at 2am or 3am Nigerian time because she’s always trying to watch my races and she’s like: ‘I won’t sleep’. So, I definitely dedicate the trophy to her. I know a lot of people have tagged me the ‘almost’ girl, I’ve seen and heard a lot of comments. It’s just sad knowing that I’m that girl that people tag ‘almost’ and that’s the main force that’s going to drive me next year. I don’t want to be the ‘almost’ girl. I want to be ‘that girl’, the girl that wins every competition. Delay is not denial for Amusan, who's ticking off her bucket list one hurdle at a time, September 19 2021 The goal was to come out and to win this gold, Honestly, I believe in my abilities, but I was not expecting a world record at these championships. World Athletics Ratifies Tobi Amusan’s 100m Hurdles Record (24 July 2022) Unknown now, but I will be UNFORGETTABLE … I will Persist until I SUCCEED …. Amusan wrote on Twitter (8 November 2016) At this moment, Kendra owns the record and I don’t have any but she doesn’t have two heads. It will be good for me to run a PR or break the world record if she is not careful–just kidding… Her reply during an interview with Making of Champions Physically, I think I was ready, but mentally I wasn’t. I think my mentality let me down. At the Tokyo Olympic Games Remember someone saying that I'm a giant in Africa, but a wounded lion on the world stage. From near quitting to record-breaking: Tobi Amusan's emotional journey to becoming the world's fastest 100m hurdler. 26 August 2024, Olympics. It’s all been God, hard work, dedication and discipline. I’ve always been clear about what I want to achieve in this sport, and my goals are what wake me up every day and keep me going. That’s really been the secret. Maybe I would have warmed up a little less when I felt something and just prepared for the race instead of trying to push it. I might not have executed the best final today, but I’m just thankful I was able to come out here and get the bronze medal. I'm definitely in very great shape. I know what I’m capable of doing in any race, but I don’t go into races expecting crazy fast times. The goal is always to execute. I tore a tendon and also had a pretty bad fall at training camp, so I’ve been really iffy about my knee coming into this championship. I’m just thankful that God kept everything together for me to be able to get on the podium once again. Honestly, with what I’m dealing with right now, I just want to go and get treatment, recover properly and then look forward to the rest of the season. When things are out of my control, I just come out here, put my best foot forward and let God do His thing. Of course, I’m disappointed, but I’m still thankful because it could have been worse. I still got my little bronze medal, so I’ll take it. What pressure? I’m about to leave the sport. (Laughs). Nigeria has great talent, and it’s amazing to see that it’s not just Tobi who is being mentioned whenever global stars are being recognised. They’re amazing girls. We’ve been talking for a long time. Last year she won silver, this year she’s the champion. I’m really excited for her and for everyone. It’s great to see. Training is different… it’s been tough, but I trusted the reason I went there, and it all paid off. This performance is for them I had a pretty bad fall at training camp, so I’ve been a bit concerned about my knee coming into this meet. But I’m just thankful I was able to hold it together and get on the podium once again,” A Quotes about Tobi This is good news for Nigerian athletics and sports in general and I pray and hope it inspires this generation of sports men and women of this generation and other generations to come. Endurance Ojokolo as quoted in Endurance Ojokolo: Tobi Amusan’s incredible feats will inspire others, Sportsnow, November 14, 2022. Hard work pays. Tobi is a hardworking girl who believes so much in herself and her coach (Jamaica's Lacena Golden-Clark). She didn’t give up after coming close to making the podium twice, first at the World Championships in Doha, Qatar in 2019 where she came fourth and at the delayed 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan where she also came fourth, losing by the narrowest of margins, especially in 2019. She never doubted herself or her coach. Endurance Ojokolo as quoted in Endurance Ojokolo: Tobi Amusan’s incredible feats will inspire others, Sportsnow, November 14, 2022. External links Category:1997 births Category:Living people Category:Women from Nigeria Category:Women in sports Category:Women born in the 1990s Category:Olympic athletes for Nigeria