Amusan ‘short of words’ after World Athlete of the Year nomination

Tobi Amusan is the world record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles.

World, Commonwealth and African 100m hurdles champion and record holder, Tobi Amusan, says she is honoured to have been considered among the best 10 female athletes in the world for the outgoing year.

The 25-year-old’s name was among the 10 female athletes released Wednesday morning by World Athletics as nominees for the Women’s World Athlete of the Year 2022 award.

“Through the grace of God, I have achieved so many ‘firsts by a Nigerian’ and this is yet another one. I’m so honoured to be selected as a World Athlete of the Year Nominee and the first Nigerian ever to reach this height.

“I have twice been named Nigerian Athlete of the Year by Athletic Heat platform, but this is my first international nomination and I want us to win it,” Amusan wrote on her Facebook page.

Amusan made history at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, USA in July when she became the first Nigerian athlete to win a world outdoor title and the first to set a world record courtesy of the 12.12s she ran in the semi-finals.

Amusan, who last year made history as the first Nigerian in the Diamond League era to win the Diamond Trophy, also made history at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham when she became the first Nigerian track and field athlete to successfully defend a Commonwealth Games title and the first to win gold in two Commonwealth Games.

Meanwhile, a three-way voting process will determine the finalists.

The World Athletics Council and the World Athletics Family will cast their votes by email, while fans can vote online via the World Athletics social media platforms – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Individual graphics for each nominee will be posted on Facebook,