Nigerian athlete Tobi Amusan has made history at the 2025 Rabat Diamond League, securing a remarkable victory in the women’s 100m hurdles with a new record time. Amusan clocked an impressive 12.24 seconds, shattering the previous record of 12.51 seconds set by American Brianna McNeal in 2018.
This achievement marks a significant milestone for Amusan, solidifying her position among the top hurdlers globally. Her road to success, however, hasn’t been without challenges. After a frustrating end to her 2024 season, where she fell short of the final at the Paris Olympics, Amusan made adjustments to her training regimen.
“I just wanted to execute a clean race,” Amusan said, reflecting on her performance. “I mean, the beginning of the season was a little bit rough for me, but I kept my head down, trusted the process, had faith in my hard work.” She attributed her success to increased hurdle practice, stating, “I’ve been doing more sprinting, and it was after the first two Diamond League meetings I knew I needed to go back into doing hurdle drills.”
Amusan’s record-breaking run in Rabat is currently the sixth-fastest time globally this season, showcasing her rapid return to form ahead of the World Championships in Tokyo this summer. Notably, Amusan’s achievement contrasts with her recent performance; she had fourth-place finishes in the Xiamen and Shanghai Diamond League events earlier in the season.
In related news, Amusan has opted out of the upcoming Philadelphia Grand Slam Track event, where athletes like Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Ackera Nugent are expected to compete.