In a record breaking victory, Tobi Amosun emerged the first Nigerian athlete to win a gold medal at the World Athletics Championships when she won the women’s 100m hurdles in Oregon on Sunday.
She overthrew the world record in a stunning semi-final where he clocked 12.12 seconds, crossed the line at Hayward Field in 12.06 seconds.
“To be honest, I’m confident in my abilities but I didn’t expect a world record at these championships,” Amosun said after her eventual victory.
“The aim is always just to do well and get the win. So the world record is a bonus. I knew it was in me but when I saw it on the screen after the semi-final, I couldn’t believe it.
“Before the final, I just tried to stay calm and do my best. I took a deep breath knowing I had a goal and it worked out great. I knew it was fast. But not that fast,” she added.
Congratulating her for the victory, President Muhammadu Buhari said Amusan’s career would continue to inspire upcoming generations in the country.
According to a release by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, Buhari expressed heartfelt congratulations to the world champion for winning the women’s 100m Hurdles at the World Athletics Championship 2022, setting a new world record in the semifinals of the athletic event and becoming the first Nigerian to win a gold medal at a World Championship.
He joined millions of Nigerians in celebrating the outstanding feat by a compatriot and two-time African Games champion, who in one night stunned the athletics world with her superlative and stellar performance.
The President thanked the track superstar for making the Nigerian national anthem resonate again from the international podium, leaving the nation with the excitement and unforgettable memories of tears of joy and triumph; hope and victory; incredulity and belief.
