World 100‑m hurdles champion and record holder Tobi Amusan revealed that she almost quit athletics last year, but her coach persuaded her to stay. The 25‑year‑old made history in 2022, becoming Nigeria’s first world champion in athletics when she won the 100‑m hurdles gold at the World Championships in Oregon. She set the current world record of 12.12 seconds in the semi‑final and followed it with a 12.06‑second run in the final. Amusan also captured gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and defended her Diamond League title in Zurich, setting a meet record of 12.29 seconds.
In a video chat with Justin Tuckey, the Ogun‑born hurdler described the World Championships victory as a turning point. She confessed that, before the race, she had decided to abandon athletics and return to school. “That was the moment of ‘did I just do that?’” she said, recalling the months, years, and intense training that culminated in a sub‑12‑second performance—“sweat, tears, heartbreaks, and the urge to quit almost every other year.” Seeing her coach in the stands, she felt an overwhelming sense of achievement: “Ma, we did it—it was just crazy.”
Amusan explained that the uncertainty of the season had pushed her toward a master’s degree, fearing another disappointing year. “I was tired after finishing fourth repeatedly,” she admitted. Yet she felt a divine presence guiding her: “It was a moment of God—still being able to achieve when you feel broken and think it’s over. 2022 was supposed to be my quit year, but God showed up miraculously.” She concluded that the experience was a huge moment not only for herself but also for her coach, family, and everyone who supported her.
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