Praises galore for history maker, Tobi Amusan
…Buhari, Govs, Dare, others congratulate world champion It has been praises galore for the golden girl, Oluwatobiloba Ayomide “Tobi” Amusan after she broke the 100m hurdles’ world record twice in just over an hour at the just concluded World Athletics Championship on Sunday. Amusan won the gold by running a stunning 12:12 seconds in the […]
- …Buhari, Govs, Dare, others congratulate world champion
It has been praises galore for the golden girl, Oluwatobiloba Ayomide “Tobi” Amusan after she broke the 100m hurdles’ world record twice in just over an hour at the just concluded World Athletics Championship on Sunday.
Amusan won the gold by running a stunning 12:12 seconds in the semi-final to smash American Keni Harrison’s 12:20 seconds record set 6 years ago, before powering over the line at Hayward Field in 12.06sec in the final.
It will also be noted that Nigeria recorded her best performance ever at the World Athletics Championships after Tobi Amusan and Ese Brume won gold and silver respectively on the last day of the 2022 edition in Oregon.
Brume won the silver medal in the competition with a final leap of 7.02 metres
President Muhammadu Buhari in a statement issued by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, saluted the track superstar for setting a new world record in the semifinals of the athletic event and becoming the first Nigerian to win a World Championship.
The president thanked her for making the Nigerian national anthem resonate again from the international podium, leaving the nation with excitement and unforgettable memories of tears of joy and triumph; hope and victory; incredulity and belief.
Also, the Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello in a press statement signed on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Muhammed Onogwu added that the track superstar through her excellent display had united the nation, bringing joy and excitement, while our national anthem was brought to the limelight on an international podium.
Also, Dapo Abiodun, the governor of Ogun State, said he adopted Tobi Amusan some months ago in order to support her career while wishing her greater heights.
In the same vein, the Sports Minister, Sunday Dare described the country’s performance at the championship as a new dawn for Nigerian athletics.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu hailed the golden girl for smashing the world record not once but twice in the process.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar used the feat to underscore his plan to refocus investments in sports and creative sectors.
In the same vein, the Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi said sports remains a very veritable avenue to harness the talents of our youths, create jobs and above all, contribute immensely to much-needed peace and unity in our dear country Nigeria.
Amusan broke her own African 100m Hurdles record, running 12.40s at the heat stage. It was also the fastest heat time ever run at a global championship, according to World Athletics on Twitter.
Then she went on to run 12.12s in the semis, breaking the world record.
At the finals, she put on an excellent performance and ran a record 12.06s, but that record was ruled ineligible as the wind speed exceeded the legal limit. The wind was +2.5m/s.
Amusan had announced her arrival on the big stage after winning silver in the African Youth Championships in 2013 before capping it with a gold medal at the 2015 African Junior Athletics Championship in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
She won the 2018 Commonwealth and 2019 African champion in the event and is a two-time African Games champion.
At the moment, she sits on 2nd place in the World Rankings for Women’s 100mH and 21st place in Women’s Overall Ranking, according to World Athletics.
By Jide Olusola, Muideen Olaniyi