Paris 2024: Tobi Amusun On Verge Of Olympic Medal As American Gabrielle Thomas Beat Julien Alfred, Favour Ofili To Gold

Tobi Amusan is certainly among the favourites for the gold medal, but that won’t come easy, contending on the field with others having the same aim. Wheshe n takes to the track of Stade de France in the heat of the women’s 100m hurdles at the Paris 2024, she will be aiming to rewrite Nigerian history at the event.

Glory Alozie was the last Nigerian sprint hurdler to win a medal for the country at the Sydney Olympic Games in Australia 24 years ago. Ever since, no athlete, (male or female) has made the podium in the sprint hurdles. Only Amusan has rewritten Alozie’s National and African records in the event.

Amusan has every right to lay claim to the precious medal just like Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico; Jamaican Danielle Williams and Bahamas’ Devynne Charlton. These are the top dogs in the event and any of them is good enough for the gold. Camacho-Quinn in particular, is the biggest threat to Amusan realizing her dream here in Paris 2024. The Puerto Rican holds the Olympic record at 12.26secs achieved in Tokyo in 2021. She broke that Olympic record in the semifinals, running 12.26 secs, to go equal fourth on the world all-time list. The following day in the final, Camacho-Quinn won the gold medal with a time of 12.37 secs. Amusan failed to make the podium, placing fifth in Tokyo. 

But a year later, the petit Nigerian hurdler fondly called “Tobi Express” announced her final arrival on the big stage at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Oregon USA. On that cold night, Amusan rewrote the 100m hurdler history, clocking a new world record of 12.12 secs in the semi-final of the World Championships.Generally, This season, she has competed in 17 events, which include the 60m, 100m, 100m hurdles, and the 4x100m relay.

However Amusan, is a three-time (consecutive) Diamond League winner, two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist, two-time African champion, and three-time African Games gold medallist, has participated in two Olympic Games (Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020).Now we look forward to Her semi-final on the field.

Favour Ofili was another medal prospect for the country at women's 200-meter event but that was dashed in the final as American sprinter, Gabrielle Thomas stunned the crowd to take the gold in 21.83s ahead of Saint Lucia's Julien Alfred who finished second for silver. The bronze medal went to another American athlete, Brittany Brown. 

The women's 100-meter hurdle semi-finals will take place on Friday.

Ifeoluwa Dada, an enthusiast writer on sports, lifestyle and other related events. Also, a public relations member