Nigerian sprint hurdler and world record holder, Tobi Amusan, secured her spot in the women’s 100-meter hurdles semifinals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, raising hopes for a medal in the ongoing Games.
Competing on Wednesday, Amusan dominated her heat, crossing the finish line in 12.49 seconds. She led a competitive field of eight athletes, with American hurdler Alaysha Johnson following closely behind with a time of 12.61 seconds, and Jamaica’s Janeek Brown finishing in 12.84 seconds.
Amusan’s qualification marks her third straight Olympics, having competed in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. Despite reaching the semifinals in the previous editions, she did not manage to secure a podium finish.
However, this time, Amusan feels optimistic about her chances. Reflecting on her journey, she stated, “The first time I came as an Olympian, I was like 18/19, the second time I think I was a little bit experienced and I didn’t get on the podium. This time I think, it’s my season.”
The semifinals are set for Friday, August 9, with the final taking place the following day, offering Amusan a chance to clinch a much-anticipated Olympic medal for Nigeria.
Meanwhile, in the men’s 400m, Nigerian athlete Samuel Ogazi has also made headlines by advancing to the final. Ogazi, who faced tough competition in the semifinals, expressed his excitement at making it to the final round.
He proudly shared that being among the top eight athletes in the world is a significant achievement for him and his country.
Ogazi’s qualification marks a historic moment, as he is the first Nigerian athlete in 36 years to reach the 400m final at the Olympics.
