World record holder Tobi Amusan has expressed pride after claiming silver in the women’s 100m hurdles final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, saying she felt she carried the weight of Nigeria on her shoulders.
Amusan clocked 12.29 seconds on Monday to finish behind Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji, who stormed to gold in a national record of 12.24 seconds, while America’s Grace Stark took bronze in 12.34 seconds.
The Nigerian, who won gold in Eugene in 2022, said her performance was not just about personal achievement but also about representing her country and inspiring others.
“I put the whole country on my back, but this is bigger than me. It’s a mission first for Nigeria and for the world, but I also do it for myself. I’m just glad that every time I come out to a championship, win or lose, I still show up and I’m thankful for that,” she said.
Reflecting on her past struggles, Amusan recalled the pain of finishing fourth in Tokyo during the 2021 Olympics.
“The moment I heard the World Championship was going to be held here, I had PTSD. But then I told myself I’m not leaving here without the gold medal. I don’t know, but I’ll take the silver,” she admitted.
The 28-year-old described her journey as rough, with more setbacks than victories, but credited her support system—family, coach, mentors, and fans—for helping her stay grounded.
“This is for everyone who supported me. I’m just out here, going to training, competing, and this is for them,” she said.
Amusan highlighted the competitiveness of the final, saying her faith gave her strength.
“It’s really tough. Look at the kind of line-up we had in the women’s hurdles, it’s anybody’s race. I kept saying to myself yesterday it’s not of the swift, but of God to show mercy. I worked really hard and I deserved this. I’m just thankful I didn’t leave here without a medal again this year,” she added.
Looking back at her time, Amusan said she had anticipated a strong run after her season’s best earlier in the year.
“Trust me, I knew it was coming. Running 12.29s for silver, we’ll take it. It could be better, but we’ll take it,” she said.
She also revealed her new shaved look was a practical decision to avoid the stress of maintaining her hair during a hectic training schedule.
“I just woke up one day tired of going back and forth to the salon, so I chopped it off. Now no stress, no drama,” Amusan explained.
Her silver medal adds to Nigeria’s tally at the World Championships, making it the country’s 12th medal in the competition’s history.