Hurdler Tobi Amusan made history on Monday by becoming the first Nigerian to win a World Championships gold in Oregon, USA. In this report, JOHNNY EDWARD writes about how the 25-year-old world champion overcame her near misses at previous championships to become the world’s number one hurdler
Tobi Amusan’s decision to convert to the sprint hurdles from long jump finally paid off spectacularly when she wrote her name in gold at the recent World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
The Nigerian hurdler broke the 100m hurdles world record with a stunning semi-final time of 12.12secs to beat Kendra Harrison’s 2016 world record by 0.08secs.
The 25-year-old ran even faster in the final – but her 12.06secs was ruled ineligible by an illegal tailwind.
This feat comes after she had placed fourth twice in the 100m hurdles at the 2019 World Championships in Doha and at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Amusan finally made it — not just onto the podium, but to the top of the medal stand.
Looking back on how she made it here, Amusan who was dubbed the ‘almost girl’ defied that tag to reach the top of the medal stand in Oregon.
“It has been a long journey,” she said.
“I was the ‘almost girl. I got fourth, fourth, fourth. Now I finally did it and with a world record for good measure.”
On a day of unprecedented glory and speed, Amusan delivered an extraordinary time; clocking 12.12secs to shatter the former World Record.
Amusan was shocked after looking at the clock to check her time. It’s the largest time drop for a world record in the event in 42 years.
Just under two hours later, she was back for the final. After a slow start, Amusan pulled ahead in the middle of the race to win in 12.06secs and become the first Nigerian world champion.
Jamaica’s Britany Anderson took silver and Puerto Rico’s Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn got bronze.
The hurdler had been riding high even before she made the podium in style in the early hours of Monday (Sunday in Oregon) at the World Athletics Championships as Nigeria, the proud African nation rose to the top of the world again.At the 2017 World Championships in London, Amusan made her debut at the World Championships and reached the semi-finals.
At the last championships in Doha, three years ago, the 25-year-old placed fourth with a time of 12.49secs two-tenths off Jamaica’s Danielle Williams, who won bronze in 12.47secs – a feat which hurt the hurdler at that time despite setting a new personal best of 12.48secs then.
“I have to admit it was painful for me out there in Doha,” she was quoted as saying after the race. “Finishing fourth is the worst position you can be in, but I have to pick it up from there. I thank God for everything. Now I will concentrate on my studies and then start preparing for the new season. “Hopefully, I can get something next year, especially at the Olympics.”
At the delayed Olympics in Tokyo, nothing changed again as Amusan failed to make a podium finish, placing fourth for the second consecutive global championships and was left shattered.
She finished the final in 12.60secs.
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, who had set a new 12.26secs games record in qualifying for the final, won gold with another blistering 12.37secs finish. Kendra Harrison of the USA came second while Jamaica’s Megan Tapper claimed the bronze.
“It is disappointing to miss out on a medal, very painful but I believe with more hard work I will win medals soon. I came close but I will keep trying harder.”
Despite her fourth-place finish feat in Tokyo, there were signs of progression for Amusan, who had also crashed out in the semi-finals in her debut appearance at the Olympics in Rio.
She however atoned for that a month later in Zurich, winning the Diamond League title, surpassing Glory Alozie’s African record of 12.44secs to set a new one of 12.42secs.
Having eclipsed Alozie’s record, set at the Championships in Seville, Spain in 1999, the reigning African champion and record holder did not just fulfill her dream of becoming the second Nigerian woman to win a World Championships medal in the hurdles event but also set a record no other Nigerians and indeed African has achieved.
Prior to the Championships, Amusan was given a boost by using Adidas Adizero Avanti shoes, which are designed for 5km and 10km runners, rather than track spikes.
She revealed she had accidentally stumbled on the idea of using the shoes, which have extra bouncy foam, after injuring her foot.
Adidas bill the Adizero Avanti as “like hitting fast-forward” and promise the shoes “provide a snappy, propulsive ride with high traction and reduce fatigue, so you finish 5km and 10km races with a kick.”
There is nothing illegal about the shoes, with current World Athletics rules dictating that sprint spikes cannot have soles thicker than 20mm – the same as the Adizero Avanti.
Until now these shoes have always been used for long races, but the benefits for Amusan were obvious as she flew high over the hurdles and into the record books.
“My abilities are not centred around spikes,” Amusan said playing down the impact of the Adidas Adizero Avanti shoes.
“I had patella fasciitis at the beginning of the season so that set me back for a while.
“I spoke to Adidas and requested if I could get spikes with a softer sole. They recommended a lot of stuff and I feel comfortable in (the shoes), so I was using them basically the entire time.”
Amusan also revealed she never expected to set a new world record in Eugene.
“The goal was to come out and to win this gold,” she 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.
“And I am thankful. Before the final, I just tried to stay calm and to do my best. I took a deep breath knowing that I have some goal to accomplish and it worked pretty good. I knew it was very fast but not this fast.”
Following her achievement, former athletes have taken to social media to praise the 25-year-old’s impressive run.
Former Olympic and world champion, Michael Johnson wrote in his column on the BBC after the race, “Nobody saw Tobi Amusan’s world record coming.
The Nigerian obliterated Kendra Harrison’s mark of 12.20secs with a run of 12.12secs in the semi-finals on the final day. There were a raft of fast times in that event on the final day, which was good to see. But Amusan’s was the most amazing of all.”
Retired Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt also wrote on Twitter, “Superb Tobi.”
Another hurdler, Jamaican Danielle Williams, who finished sixth in the competition, revealed that the Nigerian had dreamt of setting a record at the championship.
“Tobi spoke it into existence,” Williams said.
She had written ‘Incoming record holder’ before the race. And to see it unfold, I am proud of Tobi.
“She’s one of my closest friends. It’s nothing short of inspirational, I know what she has gone through over the years and finishing fourth twice is not easy, but she hasn’t thrown in the towel.
To do this right now is amazing.”
Amusan, who is a Diamond League trophy winner, Commonwealth Games champion and multiple African champion, will be aiming to add an Olympic Games gold to crown her impressive collection.
