August 09, (THEWILL) – Nigeria’s Olympic hopes were dealt a further blow as podium hopeful Tobi Amusan failed to qualify for the women’s 100m hurdles final at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The world record holder finished third in her heat with a time of 12.55 seconds, placing ninth overall in the semi-final roster. This result came as a surprise, given Amusan’s strong performance earlier in the year, including a world-leading time of 12.40 seconds at the Jamaican Athletics Invitational in May.
Further disappointment followed for the Nigerian team when their 4x400m relay squad was disqualified due to a line infringement. The team had initially qualified for the final after finishing second in their heat with a season’s best time of 2:59.81. This disqualification means Nigeria will not compete in the men’s 4x400m final at the Paris Olympics.
Despite the setbacks, supporters have rallied behind Amusan, acknowledging the immense pressure she faced as a medal hopeful. Comparisons were drawn to Blessing Okagbare’s experience at the 2012 London Olympics, where similar expectations were placed on her shoulders. Fans expressed their continued support for Amusan, recognising her as a source of national pride.
In the women’s 100m hurdles semifinals, American athlete Tia Jones led the field with a time of 12.34 seconds. Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico, the defending champion, also performed well, clocking 12.35 seconds. These results set the stage for an exciting final, although Amusan will not be among the competitors.
The events in Paris serve as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of Olympic competition. While disappointment is natural, the focus now turns to how athletes like Amusan will respond to these challenges and prepare for future competitions.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
