Paris 2024 Olympics: Amusan seeking for gold in most closely matched and densely packed event
Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan says the 100m hurdles has become one of the most closely matched and densely packed events in the athletics calendar and World Athletics is in agreement and says it looks like it is going to be one of the most open and intriguing in the track and field programme at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The Nigerian told Grant Holloway after beating Masai Russell, the world leader in the high hurdles to win her semifinal heat at the 2024 Holloway Pro Classic in Gainesville, Florida that the 100m hurdles has evolved and has become tougher.
The reigning world record holder is correct as no one can correctly predict who will win the gold at the Paris Olympics as there are at least eight athletes in the event that could credibly have a legitimate shot at the gold medal.
World Athletics is not ruling out the Nigerian who is still seen as one of the contenders for the ultimate title. She currently stands joint 12th in the world list with 12.40, set in Kingston in May.
She will not only battle the ‘new kids’ like USA’s Russell (12.25 world lead) and Ackera Nugent, the Jamaican who sped to a 12.28 lifetime best at the Jamaican Championships in June but also old rivals like Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, the defending Olympic champion who has medaled at each of the last three global championships and is eighth on the entry list by season’s best (12.39).
The 27-year-old has shown huge consistency throughout the season, winning the first two Diamond League meetings in China as well as winning seven of her nine finals this year.
There is also Cyrena Semba-Mayela who will bank on home fans to win a medal for France coupled with the fact that the former world indoor champion has ascended to a new level this year, breaking the 12.40 mark.
Nadine Visser of the Netherlands, currently joint sixth in the world list with her clocking of 12.36 at La Chaux-de-Fonds on 14 July, and Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska, European champion in 2022 and bronze medallist last month, who followed her home in 12.37.
