Endurance Ojokolo: Tobi Amusan’s incredible feats will inspire others

Former seven-time Nigeria 100m queen, Endurance Ojokolo believes Tobi Amusan’s incredible feats especially in 2022 will inspire this and coming generations of track and field athletes.

Amusan was named Monday by World Athletics among the five finalists for the Women’s World Athlete of the Year 2022 and Ojokolo says the 25 year old’s nomination is another first among the many firsts she has set for Nigeria.

‘This is good news for Nigerian athletics and sports in general and I pray and hope it inspires this generation of sports men and women of this generation and other generations to come,’ said the sprinter who, in 1997 ended Mary Onyali’s reign as Nigeria’s queen of the track.

‘The Bulldozer’, as Ojokolo, the two-time African 100m champion was affectionately referred to during her incredible reign as Nigeria’s 100 champion between 1997 and 2005 (lost in 2000 to Onyali and 2002 to Mercy Nku) believes Amusan deserves all the accolades coming her way.

”Hard work pays. Tobi is a hardworking girl who believes so much in herself and her coach (Jamaica;s Lacena Golden-Clarke,’ added Ojokolo who praised the reigning world 100m hurdles champion and record holder for her perseverance and believe.

”She didn’t give up after coming close to making the podium twice, first at the World Championships in Doha, Qatar in 2019 where she came fourth and at the delayed 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan where she also came fourth, losing by the narrowest of margins, especially in 2019. She never doubted herself or her coach.’

Ojokolo says she is keeping her fingers crossed and praying as Nigerians eagerly countdown to December 5, 2022 when the winners will be announced.

If Amusan is crowned the best in the world in 2022, it will be another first for her in the history of track and field in Nigeria.