Tobi Amusan’s long wait for a major championship medal ended in Tokyo on September 15, 2025, when she stormed to silver in the women’s 100-meter hurdles. The Nigerian, who last stood on a global podium as world champion in 2022, returned to form with a time of 12.29 seconds in a gripping final at the World Athletics Championships. Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji took gold in 12.24 seconds with a new national record, while Grace Stark of the United States claimed bronze in 12.34 seconds. For Amusan, it was more than a medal. It was proof that a bold decision she made a year earlier had been the right one.
The race itself carried tension from the opening gun. Amusan entered the championships after winning her heat in 12.53 seconds and then producing a semifinal victory in 12.36 seconds. In the final, she lined up against Kambundji, Stark, Masai Russell, Danielle Williams, Nadine Visser, Devynne Charlton, and Pia Skrzyszowska. The Nigerian executed well, pushing hard over the last barriers, but was edged at the finish by the Swiss hurdler. The silver medal nonetheless secured her place in Nigerian athletics history as the nation’s first two-time World Championship medallist in the 100-meter hurdles.
More importantly, Amusan credited her achievement to the guidance of Jamaican coach Glen Mills. Speaking after the race, she said, “It was really tough. But I mean, look at it, the hard work did pay off, and I’m just thankful. He’s an amazing coach. He trusted me, he believed in me.” Her words confirmed how decisive her move to Mills’ Racers Track Club in Kingston had been.
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That move came in September 2024, just weeks after her disappointing outing at the Paris Olympics, where she failed to qualify for the final. Leaving her longtime coach Lacena Golding-Clarke, who had overseen her 2022 world title and world record of 12.12 seconds, was not an easy step. “Training is different… it’s been rough, but I trusted the reason I went there, and it all paid off,” she explained. The collaboration between Mills and Golding-Clarke was central to her preparation. “Alongside with my coach, Lucina, they work hand in hand and this is for them,” she shared, recognizing the unusual but effective partnership.
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Mills has a long-standing reputation and is best known for guiding Usain Bolt through his world-record career. He also coached Oblique Seville to Jamaica’s first men’s 100-meter title in a decade at the ongoing World Championships in Tokyo. Many had doubted whether his expertise with sprinters could translate to hurdles, but Amusan’s silver medal dispelled those doubts. “The first two months was really tough obviously,” she admitted. “But look at it, the hard work did pay off.”
For Amusan, the silver medal in Tokyo closed a turbulent three-year stretch without a podium finish. It restored her place among the sport’s elite and vindicated a decision that had been questioned by many. By embracing new methods and trusting a coach with a legendary record in sprinting, she has reignited her career. The race in Tokyo was not only a return to the podium but a reminder that persistence, guided by a true mentor, can lead to renewed glory. But before her win, Amusan openly criticized Nigeria’s kit provisions, prompting a swift defense from sports authorities.
Tobi Amusan’s kit criticism sparks sharp defense from the Nigerian sports commission
Tobi Amusan’s remarks about Nigeria’s preparation for the World Athletics Championships ignited a controversy that refused to fade quietly. She posted a video displaying the kit she and her teammates had received, voicing her dissatisfaction without restraint. “As it is now, I have to wear an Adidas black tight,” she said, before adding that while other countries provided athletes with proper suitcases of gear, Nigeria’s contingent received “small nylon bags.” Her words, direct and unembellished, painted a picture of neglect that resonated across the track and field community.
Officials, however, wasted little time in challenging her version of events. National Sports Commission Chairman Shehu Dikko appeared on Channels Television to dismiss suggestions of inferior equipment. “Those kits are not inferior or whatever people are trying to say,” he remarked, attributing the controversy to presentation rather than substance. He insisted that other nations used similar products and described the issue as one of packaging, not quality. The Athletics Federation of Nigeria added that Amusan had been given the same kits as her teammates, noting that she had also received special travel arrangements, including a business class ticket.
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