Tobi Amusan Eyes New Sprinting Heights in Jamaica

Tobi Amusan, Nigerian track and field athlete.

Tobi Amusan is built for speed, and she wants the world to know it.

In 2022, the Nigerian sprint hurdler etched her name into history by becoming both the world record holder and World Champion in the women’s 100m hurdles. At the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, Amusan stunned the athletics world with a 12.12s (0.9m/s) performance in the semi-finals, breaking the world record. She followed it up with a wind-assisted 12.06s (2.5m/s) in the final to claim gold.

Now in 2025, the diminutive dynamo has set her sights on a new challenge, sprinting without hurdles. And to chase this dream, she has come to the spiritual home of sprinting: Jamaica.

Since late 2024, Amusan has been living and training on the island under the tutelage of the legendary Glen Mills, head coach of Racers Track Club, the same club that nurtured Usain Bolt and other global sprint stars.

“I packed my bags on the 28th of November, arrived on the 29th, and started training the very next day, literally,” Amusan revealed, speaking about her switch from the United States to the Caribbean.

The 28-year-old believes her true potential lies on the flat and is determined to prove it, not only to the world but to herself.

“I feel like I’m more of a sprinter than a hurdler, and I wasn’t about to let that talent go to waste. My coach, Lacena Golding-Clarke and I had that conversation, and after the Olympics, it was a mutual decision. We looked at all the options and agreed that Racers Track Club was the best place for me.”

Now five months into her new training environment, Amusan is confident she made the right move.

“It’s been great. The way Coach Mills trains is similar to what I’ve done over the years. I’m a fragile athlete, I can’t take a daily beating, so it takes a very special coach to work with someone like me.”

But while many may assume that training is the toughest part of being a professional athlete, for Amusan, it’s the recovery that takes the biggest toll.

“Recovery is the hardest part of being an athlete, for me. You can do everything right and still wake up the next day feeling like quitting. But we still show up, because we love it, and let’s be honest, the bills won’t pay themselves!”

Despite her achievements, Amusan is candid about the emotional highs and lows of elite sport.

“I’m a bit of a crybaby,” she admits with a smile. “Some days in track and field are anything but rosy. But professionally, 2022 was one fantastic year. I’ve been a pro since 2017, and I can confidently say, 2022 was that year.”

She adds that her journey is rooted in faith, especially when things don’t go as planned.

“You can be the hardest worker in the room, and things still might not go your way. That’s when faith steps in. I remind myself of the times God has shown up for me, even when I thought I was done. And then the next year, I get a big surprise. It’s not always easy, but it’s definitely worth it.”

Now slowly building back from a minor training setback, Amusan is cautiously optimistic about the 2025 season.

“I’m taking it one day at a time. I had a little hiccup in training, but things have been going well, and I’m excited for the rest of the season.”

Amusan is also looking forward to her third consecutive appearance at the Racers Grand Prix, one of Jamaica’s premier athletics meets.

“I’ve competed at the Racers Grand Prix for two years in a row and haven’t lost yet, so I’m really looking forward to this year. The atmosphere is always electric, the fans bring the energy, and we feed off that. Hopefully, we’ll see a full stadium this time around.”

The Racers Grand Prix will be staged at the National Stadium in Kingston on Saturday,  June 7, 2025.