Tobi Amusan fought through a knee problem to claim bronze in the women’s 100m hurdles at the 23rd Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, extending her remarkable record of reaching the podium at every one of her last three appearances.
Key takeaways
- Amusan recorded 12.60 seconds to finish third in Glasgow.
- The Nigerian hurdler competed after falling heavily during training in Aberdeen.
- The result marked her third straight Commonwealth Games podium appearance.
- She also had to manage cold weather while dealing with anaemia.
- Amusan plans to receive treatment before deciding when to race again.
Amusan battles to another Commonwealth medal
The 29-year-old world-record holder secured the bronze medal despite carrying an injury sustained at Team Nigeria’s camp in Aberdeen. Her latest podium placed her among the medals at a third consecutive Commonwealth Games.
Amusan arrived in Glasgow as a two-time Commonwealth champion, a former world champion and a multiple African champion. After the final, she revealed that a serious fall in training had left her worried about the condition of her knee before the race.
She said the setback had caused understandable concern, but expressed gratitude that she managed to control the situation well enough to finish among the leading three athletes.
Instead of pulling out or allowing the injury to dominate her preparations, Amusan chose to compete for Nigeria against the strongest hurdlers in the Commonwealth. Her decision underlined the bravery and determination that have become central to her career.
The conditions presented another challenge. Glasgow’s low temperatures forced Amusan to take additional measures before the race, particularly because she is anaemic and wanted to avoid becoming cold.
She explained that the weather was uncomfortable and that she used every available opportunity to remain warm ahead of the start. The Nigerian athlete said she did everything possible to protect her body before entering the competition.
Focus turns to recovery
Amusan did not use the injury or the weather as an excuse for the result. Instead, she concentrated on preparing properly and producing her best effort for Nigeria, recalling that she had adopted the same approach whenever she had previously felt something physically during competition.
The bronze was not the medal she would have preferred after taking gold at the two preceding Commonwealth Games. Even so, her performance represented another display of resilience and national commitment as she competed while managing an injury.
Now that the Games are over, Amusan’s short-term attention is on rehabilitation. She intends to seek medical treatment first and will then assess what comes next before committing to another competition.
Her performance in Glasgow further strengthened her reputation as one of Nigeria’s most dedicated athletes. Even when she is not at full fitness, Amusan continues to risk her own well-being in service of Team Nigeria and its green-and-white colours.
