By Sport Analyst
Emmanuel Afonja
Nigeria’s sprint queen Tobi Amusan delivered another world-class performance on Monday, September 15, as she clinched the silver medal in the women’s 100 metres hurdles final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Amusan, the reigning world record holder and 2022 world champion, clocked 12.29 seconds, finishing just behind Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji, who stormed to victory in 12.24 seconds—a new Swiss national record and the country’s first-ever world title in the event.
American Grace Stark secured the bronze medal with a time of 12.34 seconds, while her compatriot Masai Russell settled for fourth in 12.44 after a sluggish reaction off the blocks.
The rest of the field featured Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska and Bahamian Devynne Charlton, who both crossed in 12.49, with Skrzyszowska edging sixth place on photo-finish. Jamaica’s Danielle Williams, the 2023 champion, managed 12.53 for seventh, while Dutch hurdler Nadine Visser placed eighth in 12.56.
Amusan, 28, had entered the championship as one of the clear favourites, following a commanding semi-final win in 12.36 seconds. In the final, she exploded out of the blocks and looked on course for another gold, but Kambundji’s late surge proved decisive.
Despite missing out on the top prize, Amusan’s silver marks Nigeria’s 12th medal in World Championships history and adds to her already glittering legacy. Her 2022 world record of 12.12 seconds remains untouched, a reminder of her dominance in the discipline.
For Amusan, the Tokyo silver is another milestone in a career defined by resilience, consistency, and the pride of carrying Nigeria’s flag on the global stage.
