Tobi Amusan: Nigerian Athlete Misses Out as American Hurdler Wins 2022 World Athletics Award

Tobi Amusan: Nigerian Athlete Misses Out as American Hurdler Wins 2022 World Athletics Award

Babajide Orevba
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:19 PM
  • Tobi Amusan has missed out on the prestigious women’s world athlete of the year award
  • The Nigerian sprinter was edged by American hurdler and sprinter Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who won the prize
  • McLaughlin-Levrone beat four others to the coveted title following her stellar performances during the year

American hurdler and sprinter Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has beaten Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan to the women’s world athlete of the year award.

In a statement released by World Athletics on Monday evening, December 5, McLaughlin-Levrone was announced as the winner of the prestigious prize.

The 23-year-old edged Nigeria’s Amusan, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica, Kimberly Garcia of Peru, and Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela to win the award.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Tobi Amusan, World Athletics
Tobi Amusan fails to win the women's athlete of the year award, which was scooped by Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. Photo: Arnold Jerocki
Source: Getty Images

During the course of the year, McLaughlin-Levrone smashed two world records in the 400m hurdles record, first to 51.41 at the US Championships and then to a sensational 50.68 at the World Championships, Cable reports.

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She then claimed her first senior world title before following it up by anchoring the US team to another 4x400m victory.

Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan also had an outstanding year as she pulled off brilliant performances at the Diamond League, Commonwealth Games, and World Athletics Championships.

The Commonwealth gold medalist was named among the five finalists for the prestigious international award, according to a statement released by World Athletics earlier in the year.

The 25-year-old became the first Nigerian world champion after she clocked a wind-aided 12.06 seconds — ineligible as a world record because of +2.5 meters per second strong wind.

Why I took a $50,000 loan - Amusan

Sports Brief earlier reported that world record holder in the Women’s 100m Hurdles, Tobi Amusan, has disclosed that she had to take a loan of $50,000 loan to prepare for the 2022 World Athletics Championships.

The 25-year-old said this to newsmen in Lagos on Wednesday, September 22, as she returned home a week after meeting President Muhammadu Buhari.

The World Athletics ratified her 12.12 seconds finish at the world championship semi-final as the new world record.

Authors
Babajide Orevba photo
Babajide Orevba
Babajide Orevba is a CAF accredited Nigerian journalist and HOD of the Local Desk with over 10 years of experience in media landscape.He studied NCE Political Science/Social Studies, AOCOED.
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