World Record holder Tobi Amusan was Nigeria’s biggest medal hopeful in the Paris 2024 Olympics but failed to make it to the final.
Tobi Amusan, the reigning world champion and world record holder in the 110m hurdles, has suffered a shock exit from the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The 27-year-old Nigerian superstar, who had been tipped as one of the biggest medal hopes for her country, failed to even reach the final after finishing third in her semi-final heat with a time of 12.55 seconds.
Tobi Amusan’s hope dashed
This disappointing performance saw Nigeria’s flagbearer Amusan finish a lowly ninth overall, dashing the nation’s dreams that had been counting on her to deliver gold.
Amusan, who set the world record of 12.12 seconds at last year’s World Championships, could not replicate that blistering form on the biggest stage.
The devastating setback will be a huge blow for Amusan and the entire Team Nigeria as they were banking on her to secure a long-awaited Olympic title in the event.
Instead, the hurdling icon’s Olympics ended in heartbreak as she failed to progress beyond the semi-final round, leaving her nation’s fans shellshocked.
The shocking upset will undoubtedly lead to questions about Amusan’s preparation and whether the pressure of being the overwhelming favourite may have taken its toll.
Meanwhile, the women’s 110m hurdles semi-finals provided high drama, with just 0.01 seconds separating the top two finishers.
American Kendra Johnson stormed to victory in 12.34 seconds, the fastest time of the semis, to book her spot in the final.
However, defending Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico pushed her all the way, clocking 12.35 to secure second place.
It was a nail-biting conclusion to the semi-finals, but the big story remains Amusan’s shock exit, leaving Nigeria devastated and questioning what went wrong for their star hurdler.
The 110m hurdles final on Saturday promises to be a thrilling affair, but Amusan will be a notable absentee as she licks her wounds after this stunning setback on the Olympic stage.
