A former American middle-distance runner Kyle Merber has said critics who questioned Nigerian hurdler Tobi Amusan after her historic women’s 100m hurdles world record in 2022 owe her an apology, as fresh performances in the event continue to reshape conversations around the mark.
Amusan stunned the athletics world at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene when she clocked 12.12 seconds in the semi-finals of the women’s 100m hurdles, breaking the previous world record of 12.20 seconds set by Kendra Harrison in 2016.
Reacting to the changing narrative, Merber said the criticism Amusan faced in 2022 now appears unfair.
“We should collectively apologise to Tobi Amusan because in 2022, when she ran fast, everyone who was not from Nigeria had an opinion,” Merber told CITIUS MAG Podcast.
The Nigerian star later ran an even faster 12.06 seconds in the final, although the performance was not recognised as a world record because of excessive wind assistance.
Despite the historic feat, Amusan’s performance sparked widespread debate at the time, with some prominent figures in athletics questioning how such a dramatic improvement had been achieved.
Among those who raised concerns was former American sprinter Michael Johnson, who suggested the time appeared difficult to believe. Other observers also pointed to factors such as new spike technology, track conditions and unverified suspicions around performance enhancement.
However, recent developments in the women’s hurdles event appear to be shifting opinions. Following Masai Russell’s impressive 12.14-second run at the Xiamen Diamond League last weekend, many within athletics circles now believe Amusan’s world record could soon come under serious threat.
