Tobi Amusan's journey to sporting immortality only just begun

Tobi Amusan's moment of glory at the World Championships in Oregon

OPINION Tobi Amusan's journey to sporting immortality only just begun

Funmilayo Fameso 20:27 - 20.01.2023

Winning the World Championships title and running the World Record is actually the beginning of Tobi Amusan's journey to sporting immortality.

When Tobi Amusan crossed the finish line to win the World title at the World Championships in Oregon, the commentator called the moment one of 'sporting immortality'.

About one hour before the final, Amusan stunned not just the competitors that lined up alongside her in the 100m Hurdles semifinals, but the rest of the world. She clocked a jaw-dropping Personal Best (PB) and World Record (WR) time of 12.12s.

Amusan breaks the 100mH World Record at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon
Tobi Amusan

Then in the final, she attained the same feat, this time with a faster time of 12.06s (2.5m/s). However, this couldn't be certified as the official new World Record, due to the illegal wind reading.

Amusan ruling the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham

Less than two weeks after Amusan's World Championships achievement, she successfully defended her Commonwealth Games title in a record time of 12.30s, and Diamond League title in a Meeting Record (MR) of 12.29s, while also winning African titles.

Tobi Amusan becomes Nigeria's first double Diamond League champion
Amusan Chai v.d. Laage/IMAGO Images

These are accomplishments very few elite athletes dream of having or attaining in their career, talkless of in a single season. So surely, Amusan has sealed her name in the sands of time of World Athletics.

However, should she be satisfied with her World Record and World title-winning sporting immortality? The truth is it continues, as there are still more records to chase and far more feats to achieve at this stage when she is at the peak of her career.

1 - Tobi Amusan breaking her World Record

Amusan running 12.12s and a wind-assisted 12.06s highlights the possibilities of going sub-12s in the event. After her incredible 2022 performances, one of her future goals will be to smash her WR and become the first hurdler in history to run 11s in the event.

Amusan's goals should be to attempt breaking the World Record again
Tobi Amusan

If she does, It will be the greatest accomplishment in sprints hurdles history - the first woman to ever do it.

2 - Amusan's world title defence

Gunning for her world title defence in Budapest will be the most significant hurdle Amusan has to overcome in 2023.

Success at this will see her become only the third female athlete in history behind Gail Devers (1993 and 1995) and Michelle Perry (2005 and 2007) to achieve this feat back-to-back.

Tobi Amusan targets a successful world title defence in Budapest

Another milestone will be equalling or surpassing Gail Dever's iconic record of winning three world titles. If Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce can win her fifth world title at age 35, then Amusan has all it takes to go for three and more.

3 - Amusan winning an Olympic title

Amusan is yet to win an Olympic medal in the 100m Hurdles. At Tokyo 2020, she came agonizingly close with a fourth-place finish.

Tobi Amusan needs to win an Olympic title

Nigeria's last and only Olympic medallist in the event was Glory Alozie winning a silver medal at Sydney 2000 Olympics. If Amusan is to cement her position as the best or one of the best hurdlers to ever run the event, then an Olympic title and breaking the Olympic Record of (OR) of 12.30s is one she has to obtain.

4 - Dominating victories and multiple titles

Legendary athletes such as Usain Bolt, Fraser-Pryce, Allyson Felix, Devers, etc exceptionally dominated their events while winning multiple titles in the process.

The Nigerian has to prove her phenomenal 2022 season wasn't a fluke by consistently dominating the event for many years and repeatedly winning the major titles.

Amusan needs to dominate the women's 100mH for many years

Considering the women's 100mH is one of the most competitive events in this era, Amusan has a lot to do in turning doubters into believers in her quest at being the greatest ever to run the 100mH.

5 - More success, less pressure

If there's anything Amusan has proven over the years, it is that she performs better under pressure, no matter the circumstance.

She has mastered the art of hurdling as the World Record holder. Backing it up with more success, and staying deaf to every noise around is one she has to master its art as well.

If she can do this effectively, the glory of her sporting immortality legacy will be boldly written in Gold which can never be matched or obliterated.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Pulse Sports

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