TOKYO: Nigeria’s sprint queen Tobi Amusan claimed the silver medal in the women’s 100m hurdles final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Monday, narrowly missing out on gold.
Amusan, the current world record holder, clocked 12.29 seconds, finishing just behind Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji, who stormed to a surprise victory in a national record time of 12.24 seconds.
American hurdler Grace Stark clinched bronze with a time of 12.34 seconds, while Olympic champion Masai Russell of the United States finished fourth in 12.44 seconds.
Amusan had previously won gold at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, where she set the current world record of 12.12 seconds, a mark that still stands.
Her Tokyo performance reaffirms her place among the world’s elite, despite missing the top spot on the podium this time.
The race was fiercely contested, with Amusan showing consistency and determination in a field stacked with Olympic and world-class athletes.
Both Amusan and Kambundji celebrated their finishes on the track, with the Swiss athlete described by analysts as the breakout star of the championships after her shock victory.
For Nigeria, Amusan’s silver medal continues her legacy as one of the nation’s greatest athletes, inspiring younger generations while reinforcing her dominance in women’s hurdles on the global stage.
