World record holder Tobi Amusan says her silver medal in the women’s 100m hurdles at the Tokyo 2025 World Championships felt like carrying Nigeria on her shoulders, admitting the race was shaped as much by emotion as by performance.
Naija News reports that Tobi Amusan clocked 12.29 seconds on Monday to finish behind Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji, who stormed to gold with a national record of 12.24s. America’s Grace Stark claimed bronze in 12.34s.
“I put the whole country on my back, but this is bigger than me. It’s a mission first for Nigeria and for the world, but I also do it for myself,” Amusan said after the race. “I’m just glad that every time I come out to a championship, win or lose, I still show up and I’m thankful for that.”
The 28-year-old admitted that competing in Tokyo again brought back painful memories of her fourth-place finish at the 2021 Olympics.
“I remember in 2021 I came here and I came fourth,” Amusan told Making of Champs.
“The moment I heard the World Championship was going to be held here, I had PTSD. But then I had to snap out of it, and I told myself I wasn’t leaving here without the gold medal. I don’t know but I’ll take the silver.”
Amusan described the past few years as a turbulent journey, marked by setbacks that outweighed victories. She credited her support system for keeping her grounded.
“I’ve taken more losses than wins and I’m just thankful that I have a great support system, my coach, my family, my mentors, my loved ones, my fans. This is for everyone who supported me,” she said.
The hurdler added that her faith gave her strength. “It’s really tough. Look at the kind of line-up we had in the women’s hurdles, it’s anybody’s race. I kept saying to myself yesterday it’s not of the swift, but of God to show mercy.”
Amusan’s silver takes Nigeria’s medal haul in World Championships history to 12.
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