Image via Twitter @WorldAthletics
Tobi Amusan is a past pupil of Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School in Ogun state, Nigeria and she recently became the world record holder in the 100m hurdles.
Tobi is 25 years old and beat the previous record in the semi-finals of the World Athletics Championships in Oregon by a mere 8th of a second, clocking a time of 12.12 seconds.
She then went on to win gold in the final.
In November 2016, when she was only 19, she tweeted: “Unknown now but soon I will be unforgettable, I will persist until I succeed.” This tweet has been pinned to her profile ever since.
Unknown now , but 🔜 I will be UNFORGETTABLE … I will Persist untill I SUCCEED ….🌎🌟📌
— Oluwatobiloba Amusan, OLY (@Evaglobal01) November 8, 2016
Her athletics journey began at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School in Ogun state, Nigeria, where she was on the soccer team. She admits that she wasn’t very good. Her coach suggested that she try out for the track team and she soon became the fastest girl on the team.
From there it was on to the school relay team and then the Nigerian national squad for the 2013 Africa Youth Games where she won bronze in the long jump.
When she was ready to compete at senior level and was overlooked by officials, her coaches suggested she try the hurdles. She won her first senior hurdles title at the African Games in Congo-Brazzaville in 2015. She credits that title with changing her life and he went on to win fourth place in both the 2019 World Athletics Championships and the Tokyo Olympics.
Today she is a gold medal winner as well as a world record holder.
“I’m thankful to the man above for keeping me healthy. When God says it’s your time, it’s your time,” she said in an interview.