World Record Holder in the women’s 100m hurdles, Oluwatobiloba Amusan, returned to reckoning on Monday at the World Athletics Championship in Tokyo, Japan after storming to a precious silver medal behind Swiss lady, Ditaji Kambundji.
Amusan who won the gold in the event at the 2022 edition in Oregon with a world record of 12.12secs, has been struggling for fitness in the last two seasons.
But yesterday in Tokyo, the 27-year-old Nigerian fondly called Tobi Express, found her form again in the step and hop sprint event, blazing to 12.29secs to finish second behind Switzerland’s Kambundji who won the gold in 12.24 while USA’s Grace Stark hit the finish line in 12.34 to settle for the bronze.
Speaking shortly after she was presented the precious silver medal that comes with a $35,000 (about N53million) prize money, Amusan insisted that she trained hard to win a medal at the Championship in Tokyo.
“I told myself that I am not going to leave Tokyo without a medal. I know nobody likes a silver but I ‘ll take it,” began the Ogun State-born petit sprint hurdler.
Asked at what point during the race that she realised that the she was not going to get the gold like she did in Oregon 2022, Amusan admit that when hurdling she only focuses on her race. “But I noticed to my left someone or two were ahead of me. But I told myself to keep running till I get to the finish line. At the end of the race, I got a medal (silver). I couldn’t be more thankful (to God).”
On what the silver medal meant to Amusan who failed to medal at Budapest 2023 World Championship and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the Nigerian speedster waxed philosophical: “It’s been a journey and I am just thankful that I got this medal. The race was full of amazing field of top hurdlers, all looking forward to winning medals.
“Whatever challenges that I faced last year, I put them behind me and looked forward to this season and I am thankful for this medal at this championship. My goal today was to come here and execute my race and I am happy it fetched me this silver,” concludes Amusan who probably would have won the gold if she had a good start from the block.
Meanwhile, NCAA 400m Hurdles Champion, Nigeria’s Nathaniel Ezekiel, has qualified for the semi final of the event scheduled to hold on Wednesday afternoon.
Running in Heat 5 yesterday, Ezekiel clocked 48.37secs to win the event. He was followed by USA’s Caleb Dean in 48.67 while Brazil’s Francisco Dos Reis Viana was third in 48.69.
The 22- year -old Ezekiel ranked 5th in the world this year, had his race under control and finished with the 10th fastest time from the five heats in the event.
Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba had the fastest time going to the semi final with 48.03.