Nigeria’s sprint hurdling queen, Tobi Amusan, continued her impressive 2026 campaign on Sunday by winning the women’s 100m hurdles at the Paris Diamond League, equalling her season’s best time of 12.28 seconds.
The world record holder produced another composed and powerful performance to finish ahead of America’s Grace Stark, who crossed the line in 12.38 seconds, and Alaysha Johnson, who finished third in 12.39 seconds.
The victory adds another major milestone to an already remarkable season for the Nigerian star, who continues to show the consistency that has made her one of the world’s most feared hurdlers.
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Another World-Class Display in Paris
Despite challenging heatwave conditions, Amusan looked comfortable throughout the race. After a competitive opening over the first few hurdles, she found another gear in the closing stages, pulling away from the field with the smooth finishing speed that has become her trademark.
Her winning time of 12.28 seconds marks the third occasion this season she has recorded exactly the same time, having previously achieved it at the Xiamen and Rabat Diamond League meetings.
Such consistency is rare in elite sprint hurdling, where races are often decided by hundredths of a second. Amusan’s ability to repeatedly produce world-class performances demonstrates that she has found excellent rhythm heading into the busiest part of the athletics calendar.
The Paris triumph is also her second Diamond League victory of the season, further reinforcing her place among the leading contenders in women’s sprint hurdling.
Building Momentum for Bigger Challenges
Amusan’s latest success comes after a string of strong performances throughout 2026. She successfully defended her African title earlier in the season, won at the Rabat Diamond League, and also at the New Taipei City Athletics Open.
Each competition has shown gradual improvement, with the Nigerian athlete steadily building confidence and sharpening her race execution.
Having won three consecutive Diamond League titles between 2021 and 2023, Amusan is now firmly in contention to reclaim the trophy after narrowly missing out in recent seasons.
Beyond the Diamond League, attention is already turning to the 2026 Commonwealth Games and other major international competitions, where Nigeria will once again look to its world record holder as one of its strongest medal hopes.
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Nigeria’s Hurdling Queen Keeps Raising the Standard
Few athletes have represented Nigeria on the global athletics stage as consistently as Tobi Amusan. Since breaking the women’s 100m hurdles world record with an astonishing 12.12 seconds in 2022, she has remained among the sport’s elite, regularly challenging for titles against the world’s best.
Her latest victory in Paris is another reminder that experience, discipline and consistency remain powerful assets at the highest level of competition.
With every race, Amusan continues to inspire a new generation of Nigerian athletes while carrying the country’s hopes on the international stage. As the season gathers pace, her performances suggest there may be even more memorable moments ahead.
What do you think is next for Tobi Amusan this season? Share your predictions in the comments, and follow RefinedNG for more inspiring stories celebrating African excellence in sports, business, culture and innovation.