Speaking shortly after the World Record, Amusan gushed: “I wanted to get out and go. I did what I had to do. Now I’m looking forward to the finals,” said Amusan.

Amusan became a hurdler by chance, during her studies at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School in Ogun State, South-West, Nigeria.

At age 13 or 14, she went to a meet intending to compete in the flat sprints and long jump. But by the time she arrived, the only event left was a hurdles race. She won that race, and the rest — especially Sunday night — is now history.

“I used to be on the soccer team, but I would be all over the place on the pitch. My coach suggested I go try out on the track team and I became the fastest girl on the team, and that’s how I got on the school relay team.” Amusan said.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Do you have a story? You can share your outstanding story with us – send an email to: scholarshipregion@gmail.com

She had to overcome doubts from officials in Nigerian athletics before picking up her first senior hurdles title at the African Games in Congo-Brazzaville in 2015.

“The typical Nigerian approach is to make you feel like you cannot make it. I wasn’t expected to medal at those Games. There were so many voices saying I couldn’t but I used that to show that I could – and that title changed my life,” she narrated to BBC.

“That’s how I got a scholarship to the United States. I can say that’s really when my athletics career began. I never dreamt of going to the United States. I just wanted to run fast and be one of the Nigerian greats.”

Since she moved to attend the University of Texas, El Paso, United States, Amusan has not looked back and won several awards before breaking this world record.

In 2018, she won gold in the 100m hurdles at the Commonwealth Games in Australia.

Tobi Amusan was presented with her cheque of $100,000 after breaking the world record in the just concluded race. She also got another $70,000 for winning a Gold medal.

Speaking shortly after the World Record, Amusan gushed: “I wanted to get out and go. I did what I had to do. Now I’m looking forward to the finals,” said Amusan.

Amusan became a hurdler by chance, during her studies at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School in Ogun State, South-West, Nigeria.

At age 13 or 14, she went to a meet intending to compete in the flat sprints and long jump. But by the time she arrived, the only event left was a hurdles race. She won that race, and the rest — especially Sunday night — is now history.

“I used to be on the soccer team, but I would be all over the place on the pitch. My coach suggested I go try out on the track team and I became the fastest girl on the team, and that’s how I got on the school relay team.” Amusan said.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Do you have a story? You can share your outstanding story with us – send an email to: scholarshipregion@gmail.com

She had to overcome doubts from officials in Nigerian athletics before picking up her first senior hurdles title at the African Games in Congo-Brazzaville in 2015.

“The typical Nigerian approach is to make you feel like you cannot make it. I wasn’t expected to medal at those Games. There were so many voices saying I couldn’t but I used that to show that I could – and that title changed my life,” she narrated to BBC.

“That’s how I got a scholarship to the United States. I can say that’s really when my athletics career began. I never dreamt of going to the United States. I just wanted to run fast and be one of the Nigerian greats.”

Since she moved to attend the University of Texas, El Paso, United States, Amusan has not looked back and won several awards before breaking this world record.

In 2018, she won gold in the 100m hurdles at the Commonwealth Games in Australia.

Tobi Amusan was presented with her cheque of $100,000 after breaking the world record in the just concluded race. She also got another $70,000 for winning a Gold medal.