Photo By Sam Barnes/Sportsfile via Getty Images• ‘She was close to quitting on two occasions’ • Usain Bolt celebrates magnificent NigerianJamaica’s Danielle Williams, who finished third in the 100 metres semifinals, in which new world champion, Tobi Amusan, set a new world record, has revealed that the Nigerian knew she would set a new mark even before the championship began in Eugene, Oregon, United States.Amusan ran a blistering race in the 100 metres women semifinals to smash the existing record with a time of 12.12 seconds.
She came back 90 minutes later to further change the hand of the clock in the final, running 12.6 seconds to win Nigeria’s first World Championship gold medal.Her final time of 12.6 seconds was, however, not recognised as a world record because ‘it was wind assisted.’That notwithstanding, her performance in Oregon left her friends and foes waxing lyrical about her.Reacting to Amusan’s feat, Williams, a former world champion, who could not make the podium in Oregon, said: “I ran the greatest race of my life and so, if I don’t make the final, I am satisfied because I know I gave the best I had today.“The race was wicked.
Tobi literally spoke it into existence. Just last night, I was watching on Shanice’s Instagram … they have a wall that says ‘only the best of athletes’ and on Shanice’s page I saw a little snippet of what Tobi wrote: “Incoming world record holder.’“To see it unfold today is amazing.
I am proud of Tobi. Definitely, she can speak things into existence.”Williams said Amusan’s feat was a reward for hard work and perseverance after so many heartbreaking moments in her career.“Tobi is one of my closest friends in the circuit.