World 100‑metre hurdles champion and record holder Tobi Amusan has revealed the secrets behind her spectacular performance on the track last year. The 25‑year‑old hurdler enjoyed a triumphant 2022, becoming the first Nigerian to win a world title in an athletics event when she captured the 100‑metre hurdles gold at the World Championships and set the current world record of 12.12 seconds.
In a video chat with Justin Tuckey, the Ogun‑born athlete explained that she trains hard and prepares herself mentally before every race, a routine that helps her stay focused. “We put our bodies through six hours of training each day, six days a week,” Amusan said. “You can be the fittest person in a race, but mentally you can get distracted by the other runners on the track. A few moments of that can ruin everything, and in my event you need 100 percent focus.”
She emphasized that the mental aspect is just as important, if not more so, than physical preparation. “You do the work by training hard and then you show up at the track. Sometimes it’s not about who is the toughest. I have been in every championship final, and it’s not about toughness but about who wants it, can relax and execute in most race scenarios.”
Amusan described her mental preparation routine: “Most times when I train, I do a little talking in my head to get ready mentally. What I do in training is what I do on the track. So, when you see me out there, I’m not crazy—I do this every day, especially during hurdle practice. I say to myself, ‘You are the best, you have to do it.’ That self‑affirmation, that inner dialogue, gets you going. When I’m on the track, I know what to say to calm myself down and avoid unnecessary pressure. It’s really important to be mentally tough.”
Comments are closed for this story.