All Eyes on Amusan as Nigeria’s Star Returns to Paris Seeking 12th Diamond League Win
Nigerian track and field followers, stakeholders, and fans have shifted their focus to Tobi Amusan after the Nigerian Championships concluded Tuesday in Lagos.
For the first time since winning her maiden national title in 2021, Amusan was absent from the championships, leaving supporters eagerly awaiting the return of their heroine to international action.
Amusan, Nigeria’s only outdoor world champion and reigning world record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles, will make her comeback at the Diamond League meeting in Paris, where she is chasing her 12th career victory in the event.
The 29-year-old has been in superb form this season, running 12.28 seconds twice, and will be looking to win at Stade Charléty for the first time since 2022.
That year, she ran 12.41 seconds to break her own African record of 12.42, a performance that set her on course to three consecutive Diamond League crowns beginning in Zurich in 2021.
Her return comes at a moment of heightened anticipation in the hurdles world. After the men’s 110m hurdles world record fell earlier this month, many believe the women’s mark could be next.
Paris promises another world-class clash, with Amusan set to face reigning world champion Ditaji Kambundji, USA star Grace Stark, and Olympic silver medalist Cyrena Samba-Mayela.
Amusan appears to have timed her resurgence perfectly. She set a meeting record of 12.28 seconds in Rabat, reaffirming her dominance. With rivals such as Masai Russell now closing in on her world record of 12.12, the Nigerian star may have picked the ideal moment to rediscover her best form.
