World 100mH record holder, Tobi Amusan has a chance at making history by gunning for a historic four gold medals at the ongoing African Games in Ghana.
According to the list released by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), the former world champion is listed to compete in four events: 100m, 200m, 4x100m, and her trademark event – 100m Hurdles.
While her entry into these events may look cumbersome as this is an Olympic year, and she has to avoid any means of getting burnt out before Paris, it’ll be something her coach would have thought of carefully and perhaps it may be part of her preparations heading to the Olympics.
Notwithstanding, Amusan has a great chance of medalling in all the events, and if she succeeds, it’ll make her the first woman in African Games history to achieve such a feat.
Despite the Nigerian track queen never competing in the 100m and 200m at a senior international level, she still has a great chance of medalling.
Last year, the 26-year-old clocked a brilliant personal best of 11.10s at the Top Jones Invitational in Florida, but she didn’t compete in the event again for the rest of the year.
If Amusan can replicate the same performance or even run faster, the talented speedster’s challenge for a podium spot or the gold medal is visible. If successful, it will make her Nigeria’s first medallist in the event since Damola Osayomi led a clean sweep at Maputo in 2011.
In the 200m, a more dicey event, as her last race was in 2022 when she clocked a personal best of 22.66s. Considering she has gotten faster through the years, Amusan may spring another major surprise by blazing to Nigeria’s first podium finish since 2015 or perhaps winning the first title since 2011. Amusan is the outright favourite to win the 100mH and extend the country’s unbeaten run at the Games, while the country’s 4x100m squad is the top contender for a fourth consecutive title.
So barring unforeseen circumstances, considering Amusan got faster in the indoor season by setting new 60mH African Record, her flat speed will have improved, and if she’s in Ghana in her indoor shape, Nigeria may get four medals from their speed hurdler if she successfully competes in all four events.