Tobi Amusan credits God for her athletics success.,,,
Sprint hurdler Tobi Amusan waited years to realise her athletics dream, then gave God the glory as she beat the world record and won world and Commonwealth golds.
The Nigerian 100-metre hurdler had tweeted in 2016 that she was “Unknown now .. but soon will be unforgettable”.
And she saw that come true in what’s been an incredible 2022 in which she broke the African record and then the world record on her way to the top of the podium at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon. She even beat the 12.12s semi-final world’s best with a wind-assisted 12.06s in the final, with the conditions preventing the run being officially recognised as a record.
Earlier in the season she also won the Diamond League, defending her 2021 title, and took Commonwealth Games gold in Birmingham, adding gold in the 4 x 100m relay.
Amusan, 25, said after the world-record run: “I’m thankful to God for keeping me healthy, I couldn’t be more thankful. I’m elated. It’s been a journey.”
That journey started with a Christian upbringing in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria.
“I come from a spiritually inclined family and every day it was school, church, church, church, church. I had to learn to grow as a person in faith.
“‘Great is thy faithfulness, your mercies are new every morning’. I would repeat that all day, every day. It’s been God from the beginning.”
God even gave Amusan the personality to succeed.
“I’m a very disciplined person; if I say I’m not going to drink water, I won’t.
“I’m an introvert; I was raised to be indoors and so that was my life. When I came to the US it was just me living in my dorm.
“Being here I’ve seen a lot of people, athletes, going way out of line, but as an athlete there’s a level of discipline to attain a certain spot in the career board. They’ll have a track meet and then go partying and I’m like, ‘What is that?’ Being dedicated and being an introvert kept me grounded and focused.”
Such dedication while she graduated from the University of Texas El Paso, and subsequently, has paid off. Amusan couldn’t be happier, not for herself, but for the Almighty she gives all the credit to.
“I’ve been that ‘almost girl’ at every championship,” she said, “and finally I can say, ‘God did it!’”
