Nigeria’s esteemed sprint queen, Tobi Amusan, reasserted her formidable talent on the global stage, securing a silver medal in the women’s 100m hurdles at the Tokyo 2025 World Championships. The 28-year-old athlete delivered an electrifying performance, clocking an impressive 12.29 seconds in a final that captivated spectators. She was narrowly outpaced by Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji, who clinched the gold medal with a new national record of 12.24s. Grace Stark of the United States earned the bronze medal with a time of 12.34s, while Olympic champion Masai Russell finished closely behind the podium in 12.44s.

For Amusan, this return to the Tokyo stadium was imbued with profound emotion. It was the very same venue where she had agonizingly finished fourth at the 2021 Olympics, an experience that had left a lasting imprint. Amusan openly shared her feelings, confessing, “I remember in 2021, I came here and I came fourth. The moment I heard World Championships was going to be kept here, I had a PTSD.” Despite this, she resolved to overcome the past, stating, “But then I had to snap out of it and told myself I’m not leaving here without the gold medal.” Reflecting on her silver win, she expressed gratitude: “I don’t know, but I’ll take a silver. It’s been God. The journey has been extremely rough. I’ve taken more L’s than wins. I’m just thankful that I have a great support system, my coach, my family, my mentors, my loved ones.”

Amusan’s path back to the podium has been anything but smooth. Following the monumental achievement of breaking the world record in Oregon in 2022, she has faced a series of challenges, including injuries, various setbacks, and administrative disputes. These hurdles required her to fight with unparalleled determination to maintain her elite status. Consequently, she believes this medal is a testament not only to her own efforts but also to the unwavering support of her community. “This is for everyone who supported me through it all,” she affirmed, acknowledging the intense competition in her event. “Look at the kind of lineup we have in the women’s hurdles—it’s anybody’s race. I kept saying to myself yesterday, it’s not of the swift but of God who shows mercy. I worked really hard and I deserve this. I’m just thankful I didn’t leave here with no medal again this year.”

Earlier in the season, Amusan had already demonstrated her peak form, recording a season’s best of 12.24s. For her, the silver medal serves as a validation of her readiness and performance level. “Trust me, I knew I was coming. A 12.29 to get the silver medal—we’ll take it. It could be better, but we’ll take it.” Beyond her celebrated athletic prowess, Amusan also revealed a lighter, more personal side this season, sporting a new, bold cropped hairstyle that garnered attention in Tokyo. She humorously explained the practical motivation behind the change, stating, “I was just tired of braiding my hair. I train Monday through Saturday. There’s no time to rest, and on Sundays when I should rest, I don’t want to sit at a salon. So I just chopped it off into a pixie. No stress, no drama.”