Tobi Amusan, Nigeria’s top medal hope and the reigning world champion in the 110m hurdles, has unexpectedly failed to reach the final at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Amusan, 27, was considered a major contender for gold, but she finished third in her semi-final heat with a time of 12.55 seconds, missing out on a spot in the final. This result left her ninth overall, disappointing many who had high expectations for her.
Amusan, who set a world record of 12.12 seconds at last year’s World Championships, struggled to match her previous form. She started her race slowly and despite a strong finish, she fell short of advancing.
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The setback is a significant blow for both Amusan and Team Nigeria, who were hoping for a gold medal from her. The hurdler’s exit has left Nigerian fans shocked and questioning what went wrong.
The semi-finals were dramatic, with just 0.01 seconds separating the top two finishers. American Kendra Johnson won the heat with a time of 12.34 seconds, the fastest of the semis. Defending Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico followed closely with 12.35 seconds.
The final of the 110m hurdles will be a thrilling event, but Amusan’s unexpected exit means she will not be competing, leaving Nigeria to ponder the reasons behind her disappointing performance.
