‘Amusan Deserves Apologies Over World Record Hate’

Former American middle-distance runner Kyle Merber has said critics who questioned Tobi Amusan’s 100m hurdles world record in 2022 should apologise to the Nigerian athlete, as recent performances in the event have made her record appear more realistic.

Amusan set the world record at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, running 12.12 seconds in the semi-finals to break the previous record of 12.20 seconds set by American hurdler Kendra Harrison. She also ran 12.06 seconds in the final, though it was not ratified due to wind conditions.

At the time, her performance sparked widespread debate in athletics circles, with some analysts questioning its legitimacy and suggesting factors such as spike technology, track conditions, or doping concerns could have influenced the result.

However, recent performances, including American hurdler Masai Russell’s 12.14-second run at the Xiamen Diamond League, have shifted perceptions about the event’s competitiveness.

Reacting to the development, Merber said the criticism directed at Amusan in 2022 now appears unjustified.

“We should collectively apologise to Tobi Amusan because in 2022, when she ran fast, everyone who was not from Nigeria had an opinion,” he said.

He added that as similar times have become more common, the 12.12-second record no longer appears extraordinary compared to current elite performances.

Amusan’s 2022 breakthrough made her the first Nigerian athlete to set a sprint hurdles world record, but her career has since faced interruptions, including a provisional suspension in 2023 over missed whereabouts filings before she was later cleared to compete.

Despite setbacks, she remains one of the world’s top hurdlers, winning continental titles and consistently posting competitive times, including a season’s best of 12.28 seconds in 2026.