Tobi Amusan Wins Silver in 100m Hurdles at World Championships in Tokyo

Nigeria’s sprint queen, Tobi Amusan, has added another medal to her glittering career after winning silver in the women’s 100 metres hurdles final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

Amusan, the world record holder in the event, finished second with a time of 12.29 seconds, narrowly behind Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji, who stormed to gold in 12.24 seconds, setting a new national record. The bronze medal went to the United States’ Grace Stark, who crossed the line in 12.34 seconds, while fellow American Masai Russell placed fourth with 12.44 seconds.

The Nigerian star had earlier dominated her semi-final race, clocking 12.36 seconds to book her spot in the final. For Amusan, the silver medal was more than just a podium finish; it marked a personal redemption. At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, she had heartbreakingly finished fourth, a result she later described as leaving her with “PTSD.” Returning to the same city four years later to clinch a medal was therefore deeply symbolic.

Speaking after the race, Amusan said she felt the weight of the nation on her shoulders. “I carried the whole country on my back,” she admitted, expressing both pride and relief at finally delivering a medal for Nigeria on Japanese soil.

The silver medal is Nigeria’s first and only medal so far at the Tokyo championships, highlighting Amusan’s pivotal role in keeping the nation on the medals table.

Beyond the glory, Amusan will receive US$35,000 in prize money from World Athletics, along with an additional US$20,000 bonus from Nigeria’s kit sponsor, bringing her total earnings for the feat to US$55,000 (about ₦82.5 million).

Amusan remains the world record holder in the 100m hurdles with her blistering 12.12 seconds set in 2022, a mark that still stands unbroken. Her latest performance reaffirms her place among the sport’s elite and adds another chapter to her remarkable journey as one of Nigeria’s greatest athletes.