Written By Bethel Kalu
As she leaned forward to place her hands on the tracks, thoughts were already running in her mind. By her left and right were record holders and strong contenders. The burden of losing finals when they mattered most came upon her. Was it time to rise and be counted or would this be the beginning of an end? 2022 was the projected year after all. For some seconds, these thoughts probably resonated in her mind and she knew it was then or never.
It was the race of her life; one to break bars. Once the gun went off, she flew off like a fighter jet advancing to protect its territory. As Oregon cheered, she leaped over the hurdles, one after the other in blistering pace, powered by hope, pent up frustration and the power of an eagle whose time to fly to the mountains had come. Oluwatobiloba Amusan crossed the line and it was like a dream when she looked at the clock, a world record stood: 12:12 seconds. Years of hardwork, nights of tears on her pillow and the hope of becoming a victor flashed before her, the journey to a brilliant year had begun.
In the final, all eyes were on this new star girl and she powered home, becoming Nigeria’s first ever world champion in athletics. Tobi Amusan’s journey to becoming a nation’s pride was not as smooth as she would have desired.
Amusan’s parents wanted her to focus on education so she would not be distracted by athletics or sports. As she continued to make progress in sports, she hid her training schedule from her father who is a disciplinarian. In an interview with BBC, Amusan said her father once burnt her training gears when he found out she was sneaking out to go for training at the stadium.
Amusan’s dream of becoming a sports star saw its early beginning from when she was a student at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Ijebu-Ode, her hometown.
Tobi was a budding footballer and looked forward to a career in football. One day, while others were on the field playing, Tobi was running round the pitch and her coach noticed her pace and took her to an athletics coach. She started from sprints but as a young girl, it was difficult for her to break into the first team of athletes so she switched to hurdles, where the doors opened
Amusan set her eyes on glory as a young girl. From her time at the AFN Diamond League in 2012 to when she won the African junior title, her goal has always been to bring glory home. Still, life has its challenges and Amusan faced those challenges
When it mattered most at the world stage, Amusan failed to deliver. Prior the Olympic games in Tokyo, she was tipped to win the Olympic gold medal because of her form but she finished in fourth place. That had an adverse effect on her emotions. She battled with those emotions that reminded her of her shortcomings and finally, she pegged her retirement at 2022 if she failed again. She did not care if she was retiring early at 25 but she wanted an end to that misery of failure
When she became the world champion, it was surreal for Amusan. Was she really awake? She had spoken and vowed to be a world champion someday, now she is asked to step up the podium as a world champion. As she stepped up the podium at Hayward field in Eugene, Oregon, she could feel the touch of fresh air, and the national anthem would be played, she had made her people proud.
When the anthem got to the part “the labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain,” Amusan could no longer hold her tear glands. Tears, of joy and fulfillment rolled down her cheeks. She is now part of her country’s heroes, not past but living. Her labours, her silent prayers and the time she sacrificed were not in vain. For the first time since 1983, her country’s national anthem was played at the World Athletics Championships. She took a loan of $50,000 to prepare for the Championships and she gave her all, it was her time. Her resilience, hope and persistence has yielded good fruits.
Back home in Nigeria, her name was everywhere on social media and in the conventional media. A daughter of the land had brought joy, not only to Nigeria but to Africa. She unified a country with her feat and her name resonated all corners of the country.
Amusan is an example to millions of young Nigerian and African girls, including others from different parts of the world. She has given them hope that their lifelong dreams can come true. Before the race which announced her to the world, Amusan wrote in faith on the Adidas Wall of Dreams: “Incoming world record holder and world champion.” Some hours later, her dreams came true
Still, Tobi was not done with the records. She won the Diamond League and the Commonwealth Gold medal.
In November 2016, Amusan tweeted: “Unknown now but soon I will be unforgettable, I will persist until I succeed.” She knew that challenges would come but the desire to succeed was a driving force for the amazon. Despite many disappointments, Amusan did not doubt herself, she knew she could make it. Even after her disappointing finish at the Olympics, she remembered what she wrote, that she would be unforgettable and she did it in grand style
Having moved from her town in Ijebu-Ode and conquered the world, she needed to return home; to go back to the cradle–Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. Her return was historic. Earlier, when she won the world title, young girls in her alma mater held her pictures and rejoiced. As she returned, it was time to see their role model. They formed a guard of honour from the school’s gate and gave her a hero’s welcome.
No better motivation could the girls get; they know that they can become whatever they dream to become even from Ijebu-Ode. The sight of the world champion was a lifetime experience, one that the students would always cherish. They learnt that with perseverance, resilience and dedication, they could become like Tobi Amusan
Amusan’s doors have opened and she has signed deals and has broken records there too, becoming the first female athlete to become a Glo ambassador. Amusan is now respected in Africa and is seen as a model for young Africans. No wonder, she was selected to speak at the United Nations Global Impact Forum tagged “Unstoppable Africa.” She also became an ambassador for Premium Trust Bank, a deal brokered by Nilayo Sports Management Agency, one of Africa’s finest.
Her name is now synonymous with records. She is the first Nigerian to win the Diamond League and is currently a World and African record holder. There are also other achievements and records from Amusan
In 2016, Amusan’s 12:83 seconds finish at the El Paso UTEP Invitational broke a 33-year-old record held by Kim Turner in the 100 metres hurdles. In 2017, Amusan ran an UTEP record of 12.63 seconds in the hurdles. In 2022, she broke the African record at the Diamond League in Paris with a time of 12:41s and she also won the Commonwealth Gold with a record of 12:30s and she beat her own African record at the World Athletics Championships with a time of 12:40s. She set a new meet record of 12:29s to win the 2022 Diamond League title
Few things could be more satisfying for Amusan than a handshake from the President of her country and also getting a prestigious honour, Officer of the Order of the Niger, (OON). It was a reward for all she had done to draw the world’s attention to Nigeria. When she won the world title, the commentator aptly said: “Years and years of work, for one moment of perfection and history. That is what it means to Tobi Amusan”. When she won the Commonwealth gold, the commentator said that Tobi Amusan “has forgotten how to lose.” That level of recognition came with sacrifices and years of hope and determination
This is a message to the sports authorities in Nigeria. The importance of the best facilities and proper training for athletes cannot be overlooked. Would Amusan have attained to such great heights if she were solely training in Nigeria? The athletes should be given the ideal environment for raising stars and keeping them in the best mental condition to surmount challenges. There are still many like Tobi Amusan who have not been discovered or those who are still working hard to climb the ladder of success, they need support.
Amusan’s football coach was not selfish, he saw the potential in her and took her to an athletics coach. He was not interested in personal glory but in the success of the young girl, Amusan. This underscores the importance of selfless coaches to the sporting world. Often, these men and women are not recognized but their decisions have raised many world stars who may not have made headway in their first chosen career.
In football, some coaches have changed positions for their players and it turned out to be the decision that lifted the players. Amusan’s soccer coach deserves recognition too for that kind act and now the star is shining for all to see.
Still on coaching, it is important to go for the best hands in a particular field in order to get the best of performance.
Lacena Golding Clarke, a multiple Olympian and Commonwealth Games champion took a keen interest in Amusan and facilitated her move to University of Texas in El Paso. Then, Amusan was running over 14 seconds. After years of close mentorship and diligence, Clarke has seen the young girl she took from Ijebu-Ode become a world champion.
Amusan is a beacon of hope to many young people across Africa and the world; hers is a story of perseverance and determination to succeed. Now, Amusan has not only become a world champion, she has become the pride of a nation