Nigeria’s world-record holder, Tobi Amusan, delivered the country’s first medal at the 2025 World Athletics Championships after a dramatic women’s 100m hurdles final in Tokyo, where Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji stole the show with a career-defining performance.
Kambundji stormed to gold in a new Swiss national record of 12.24s, holding off Amusan, who clocked 12.29s to secure silver and extend her run as one of the sport’s most consistent global performers.
The result denied the Nigerian star back-to-back world titles but ensured Team Nigeria celebrated its first podium finish at this year’s championships.
Amusan, who famously set the world record of 12.12s in 2022 and has dominated the hurdles scene in recent years, produced a strong finish but couldn’t close the gap on the flying Kambundji, whose flawless technique carried her to a historic victory.
The United States’ Grace Stark clinched bronze in 12.34s, with compatriot Masai Russell narrowly missing the podium in 12.44s. Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska and Bahamian Devynne Charlton shared fifth in 12.49s, while Jamaica’s Danielle Williams (12.53s) and the Netherlands’ Nadine Visser (12.56s) rounded out the final.
For Amusan, the silver medal was both a reminder of her enduring class and a signal of the rising competition on the global stage. Still, her performance reinforced her status as Nigeria’s most decorated track star, keeping hopes alive for more historic moments before the championships conclude.
