The character arc of Tobi Amusan
A life drawn by Character Arc from the public record
Born on 23 April 1997 in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, the youngest of three children of two school teachers. Between then and now sit a silver at the African Youth Championships in 2013, a first hurdles medal the following year, junior and All-Africa golds in 2015, a university place in Texas where she broke a thirty three year old record as a freshman, two consecutive fourth places at world championships, an African record lowered twice in 2022, a world record of 12.12 seconds set in a semi-final that July, a world title, a defended Commonwealth title, and a master's degree in May 2023. The line below draws the story so far, in order.
Drag along the line to move, pinch or use the buttons to look closer. Tap the line to pluck it, or any mark for its card. Drawn from the public record of her life; the sources are at the foot of the page.
Who is Tobi Amusan?
Fourth twice in a row, and then the world record.
She was born in Ijebu Ode in Ogun State, the youngest of three children of parents who both teach in schools, and went to a secondary school in her home town. She was an accomplished athlete from early on: silver in the two hundred metres at the African Youth Championships in 2013, silver in the hurdles at the African Youth Games the following year, gold at the African Junior Championships in 2015, and, at eighteen, gold in the hurdles at the All-Africa Games.
She went to the University of Texas at El Paso and in her first year won the hurdles and the two hundred metres at her conference championships and a silver in the long jump, was named the conference female track athlete of the year, and broke thirteen seconds in the hurdles with 12.83, taking down a university record that had stood for thirty three years.
Then two world championships in which she finished fourth, back to back, which is the worst place to finish. In June 2022 she defended her African title and lowered her African record to 12.41. At the world championships in Eugene that July she improved it again in the heats, and in the semi-final ran 12.12 seconds: a new world record, taking 0.08 off a mark set in 2016, the largest improvement in the event in forty two years, and the first world record in athletics ever held by a Nigerian. She then won the final in a faster time that was wind assisted, becoming her country's first world champion in athletics. In August she defended her Commonwealth title with a Games record and helped her relay team to gold, and in May 2023 she took a master's degree in leadership studies and sports management.
The moments
Tobi Amusan's timeline.
The 1990s
Youngest of three
Everyday. Two teachers for parents, in Ogun State.
The 2010s
A first silver
Milestone, and it changed her direction. Two silvers, in two different events, before she was eighteen.
Gold at eighteen
Milestone, and it changed everything. Junior champion of Africa, and then champion of Africa.
A thirty three year record
Milestone, and it changed everything. A first-year student, breaking a record older than she was.
Fourth at the worlds
Setback, and it changed everything. Fourth. The place with no medal and no story.
The 2020s
Fourth again
Setback, and it changed everything. Twice in a row, one place off the podium.
Go again after two fourths
Crossroads, decided.
The paths laid out: train for a third, taken, or settle for the continent. She set a world record in the semi-final and won the final the next day.
An African record, twice
Milestone, and it changed her direction. Two golds and a continental record, in one month.
A world record in a semi-final
Milestone, and it changed everything. A world record, in a semi-final, by the biggest margin in forty two years.
World champion
Milestone, and it changed everything. Her country's first world champion in athletics, the day after the record.
Commonwealth gold, defended
Milestone, and it changed her direction. Two more golds, a fortnight after the world record.
A master's degree
Milestone. The teachers' daughter went back and took a master's.
Ogun State produced two teachers and their youngest child holds a world record. What it has set moving is a first that nobody in her country had managed: Nigeria had never held a world record in athletics, and a hurdler who had twice finished fourth is the one who took it.
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Tobi Amusan: frequently asked questions
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Where does this timeline of Tobi Amusan's life come from?
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Sources
- Tobi Amusan, English Wikipedia biography, filed under living people.
- World Athletics records for the hundred metres hurdles world record, July 2022.
- Commonwealth Games and African Championships records.