Is Tobi Amusan the new Jackie Joyner-Kersee of Nigerian, nay, world athletics? That is the question on the lips of most sports analysts after the Nigerian broke a world record, set new ones and then broke them again at different venues in only a few months.
Just last Thursday in Zurich, Switzerland, the Nigerian yet again set a new world record. Amusan effortlessly defended her Diamond League 100mH title in a winning time of 12.29 seconds thereby breaking Gail Devers’ 22-year-old record. “God is faithful,” Amusan later told reporters after her victory in Zurich, attributing her winning streak and record-shattering achievements this year to the Almighty.
Her trainers might see things differently, though not entirely dismissing divine intervention in Amusan’s successes in field and track events considering her rigorous training regimen. She is known to spend most of her time on the track, pushing herself to the limit like a Cristiano Ronaldo in practice for a soccer match.
In her time as an athlete, Joyner-Kersee won three gold, one silver and a bronze Olympic medals at four different venues in long jump and heptathlon, prompting Sports Illustrated for Women to dub her the Greatest Female Athlete of All-Time.
True, Amusan is not one yet but from her sterling performances so far, she might very well be one day. For now, however, the Nigerian athlete is on top of her game: she set a new African Record in the Paris Meeting in June, broke her own record at the World Championships, won the Nigerian title and defended the African title in Mauritius.
The following month, the golden girl clinched the world continental tour gold medal and became the global champion and world record holder. She stepped up her game in August and retained the Commonwealth Games title and as well set a new Games record.
For now, after her spectacular performances on track and field, Amusan is cooling her heels – read vacation – before she would resume the life of a sports woman. As a setter of new records, she will compulsorily against competing athletes. And then, the 2024 Olympics is just around the corner.
Though most people doubted her from the beginning, as if she was not quite up to par, Amusan has said she had to prove herself. “Everyone has doubted me. I just had to prove myself that I have got it,” and “I am just so thankful for all of this season. I am full of emotions. Now, vacation, rest, and then back to practice.”
Amusan had emerged as the African record holder as she dusted American Tia Jones who finished second in 12.40s, Jamaica’s Britany Anderson, who came in third in 12.42s while Jasmine Camacho-Quinn ended the race fourth in 12.49s.
Her records so far have been amazing as she clinched the Diamond League title in addition to her World Record, Commonwealth Games Record, African Record, World Championship, Commonwealth, Nigerian and African Championship titles.
Though she admitted that she was initially scared before the race in Zurich, she was happy that she eventually won to shatter another record. “No pressures, it was more of proving myself that I broke the world record and I can do it over and over, it is not just a one-time thing, even though after the world championships, it took a toll on me to get back to my rhythm but with enough rest, I was able to bounce back and I am thankful.” Speaking further on the Zurich race, Amusan said: “I was scared to the teeth getting on the line, but I had to just keep my calm. I am just thankful to have come out here (Zurich) and got the win.”
About the Author
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.
