Tobi Amusan, the woman who holds the world record in the 100-meter hurdles, has spoken candidly about how she almost gave up athletics after not making the women’s relay squad at the 2013 Africa Youth Games in Warri, Delta State.
As seen by InsightnaijaTV, Tobi claimed in an interview with the BBC that the officials chose their favorites because they had always believed she lacked the necessary experience.
The world champion claimed that because she was eager to travel with the national team, the officials’ choice put a lot of pressure on a young athlete like her.
She said: “The officials were always picking who they wanted in the relay team. Sometimes they would say I didn’t have the experience so they would pick whoever was their favourite.
“It was a lot of pressure on a young athlete. I considered quitting. I really wanted to travel with the senior national team and some coaches told me to try the hurdles.”
Tobi also stated that she had to overcome doubts and challenges to attain her achievements adding that she had never thought of going to the United States.
She said: “The typical Nigerian approach is to make you feel like you cannot make it. I wasn’t expecting to medal at those Games. There were so many voices saying I couldn’t but I used that to show that I could and that title changed my life.
“That’s how I got a scholarship to the United States. I can say that’s really when my athletics career began. I never dreamt of going to the United States. I just wanted to run fast and be one of the Nigerian greats.
“2019 was tough because I remember running the fastest time in the qualification rounds, around the same time in the semi-finals and the same time in the final.
“I ran so fast but wasn’t fast enough to get a medal. I was broken, I was devastated. That was one of the most horrible experiences.
“I moved on, and then came the Tokyo Olympics. Things just crumbled a month before when I strained my hamstring at practice.”
In Eugene, Oregon, the 25-year-old track and field athlete made history by becoming the first Nigerian to win a gold medal at a World Athletics Championship in the women’s 100-meter hurdles.
Britany Anderson of Jamaica, who finished in second place, finished in 12.23 seconds. Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico, the Olympic champion, finished in third place in 12.23 seconds.
In the semifinal, where she ran a time of 12.12 seconds, she broke the world record. At Hayward Field, she crossed the finish line in an astounding 12.06 seconds.
Despite her winning time, a strong following wind of 2.5 m/s will prevent it from being recognized as a world record, according to reports.
