Nigeria’s top hurdler, Tobi Amusan, will return to the track on May 3 as she competes in the Shanghai leg of the Diamond League series.
The world record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles is hoping for a stronger outing after finishing fourth in her season opener in Xiamen, China. There, she clocked 12.74 seconds, behind Jamaican world champion Danielle Williams, the USA’s Grace Stark, and South Africa’s Marione Fourie.
Though she missed the podium, Amusan’s performance showed promise after a long break since the Paris 2024 Olympics. Now, she’s focused on making a big comeback in Shanghai.
Amusan is one of the most consistent athletes in the Diamond League, having won the overall title three years in a row – 2021, 2022, and 2023. With support from her new coach, Glen Mills – who once trained sprint legend Usain Bolt – she is determined to return to winning ways.
The competition in Shanghai will be tough. Danielle Williams remains a major threat with her season-best time of 12.53 seconds. Grace Stark (12.58s), Marione Fourie (12.62s), and Bahamas’ Devynne Charlton (12.44s personal best) are also part of the strong line-up.
Other challengers include USA’s Nia Ali (13.23s), Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska (12.37s personal best), and China’s Wu Yanni (13.00s), all aiming to secure their spots in the Diamond League final in Zurich later this year.
The Shanghai Diamond League is a key stop on the global track and field calendar, offering athletes a high-quality track and a big stage to prove themselves. For Amusan, this race is another big step in her journey back to the top—and a chance to build momentum ahead of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo later this year.
