Paris Olympics: Amusan cruises into 100mH semi-finals with 2nd fastest qualification time

Tobi Amusan has qualified for the semi-final of the women’s 100 meters hurdles at the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

The 27-year-old sprinter dipped at 12.49 seconds to finish first in heat one of the qualification round on Wednesday at the Stade de France, Paris.

Alaysha Johnson took second at 12.61 seconds, followed by Jamaica’s Janeek Brown, who finished third.

Amusan placed second fastest overall from the qualification phase behind only Puerto Rico’s Jasmine Camacho-Quin, who ran 12.42 seconds in the second heat.

She will compete in her third consecutive Olympics semi-final on Friday by 11:05 am.

Amusan is one of Team Nigeria’s most prominent medal hopefuls in Paris. She will also look to secure at least a podium finish after placing fourth at the Tokyo Olympics.

She is the world record holder in the event after clocking 12.12 seconds en route to a world title in 2022.

However, Amusan was enmeshed in a lengthy controversy after the historic feat.

In 2023, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) suspended her for allegedly “missing three tests in 12 months”.

Although a disciplinary tribunal initially exonerated her and allowed her to continue performing, Amusan was not fully cleared until the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) completely dismissed AIU’s case against her.