Tobi Amusan

About Tobi Amusan

The world record fell in Eugene, Oregon. Oluwatobiloba Ayomide "Tobi" Amusan crossed the finish line in 12.12 seconds at the 2022 World Championships semi-final, becoming the first Nigerian ever to hold a world record in athletics. She had just rewritten the sport's history.

Amusan was born on April 23, 1997. The track and field athlete specialises in the 100 metres hurdles, an event that demands explosive speed and precision timing. Few Nigerians had reached the world's elite level in this discipline before her.

Her rise began early. At just 18 years old in 2015, she took gold at the African Games and the African Junior Championships in the 100m hurdles. The teenager was already winning titles at the continent's biggest stages while her peers were still finding their footing.

The Diamond League breakthrough came in 2021. Amusan became the first Nigerian athlete ever to win a Diamond League title in the 100m hurdles, breaking the African record held by Glory Alozie in the process. She had arrived at the sport's highest commercial stage.

Then came 2022. At the World Championships in Eugene, Amusan set 12.12 seconds in the semi-final, smashing the world record. Three rounds later, in the final, she ran 12.06 seconds and claimed the gold medal. Nigeria had its first world champion in athletics.

She returned to the Commonwealth and African championships the same year, winning both titles with dominant performances. Back-to-back victories in 2018 and 2022 made her the meet record holder in both competitions. The continent's best hurdler had announced herself unmistakably.

Amusan retained her Diamond League title in 2023, cementing her status as the world's premier 100m hurdler. She holds multiple championships across Africa's biggest stages. At 27, she continues to chase faster times and bigger victories on the global circuit.