Tonobok Okowa, the president of the Nigerian Athletics Federation, Deji Aliu, a gold medalist from the African Games, and Chioma Ajunwa, a gold medalist from the Olympics, have all pleaded with Tobi Amusan, the world’s best 100-meter hurdler and current record holder, not to let losing the Women’s World Athlete of the Year 2022 Award deter her.
In a competition against Amusan and three other athletes, the World Athletics elected American hurdler Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone the Women’s World Athlete of the Year on Monday.
The other finalists aside Amusan were, Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica, Kimberly Garcia of Peru, and Amusan.
Amusan had a spectacular year in 2022, setting a new 100-meter hurdles world record en route to the gold medal at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon in 12.12 seconds.
In addition to successfully defending her Diamond League crown, Amusan set a new record in Zurich this year as she crossed the finish line in 12.29 seconds for the women’s 100m hurdles.
At the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, the 25-year-old also took home gold in the women’s 4×100-meter relay and the women’s 100-meter hurdles.
Speaking with the media, Okowa said, “Amusan should not worry about not winning the World Female Athletes Award, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. All she needs to do is to concentrate and continue with her good work, work harder and pray so she keeps breaking records, there is always another chance to win.”
The hurdler was encouraged by Ajunwa, the first Nigerian to win an Olympic gold medal, to move forward.
“She has to focus on her career, everybody knows that she is the world champion, no doubt about that and she can’t be written off,”Ajuwa stated to the media.
“Amusan should not be discouraged, she needs to move forward and continue to set new world records.”
Contributing to the subject-matter, , Aliu, a member of the Nigerian relay team who won bronze at the 2004 Olympics, said, “No, I don’t think not winning will discourage her in any way, being nominated by the World Athletics is an achievement on its own.”
