Tobi Amusan, says she is not under any form of pressure to win gold at the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which will be held from Friday, July 26 to Sunday, August 11.
The world record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles has been in great form in the run-up to the sports fiesta, with a world lead of 12.40s (0.9), which she ran at the Jamaican Athletics Invitational in Kingston last week.
Before then, she had set the African 60m hurdles indoor record twice in January and February and admitted she was in better shape than in previous seasons.
In what will be her third appearance at the Olympics in Paris, the 27-year-old downplayed a rush of pressure for her to add the Olympic gold medal to her cabinet.
“No pressure, just having fun. One day at a time, one race at a time, no pressure on. When it’s time for Paris, we’ll definitely show up in Paris,” Amusan said via Making of Champions ahead of the Adidas Atlanta City Games.
When asked about her timing this season, the world record holder also said it becomes important during major competitions.
“I’m not really worried about time; I just want to execute and get the win; that’s most important. That’s something me and my coaches have been working on, so when we get to championships, we will be worried about time,” she said.
Asked about her slow start to races, as evident in her coming from behind to win the Jamaica Invitational and set the world lead, she also noted, “We are definitely working on it. We have our days when we come together and other days, but it’s something I’m working on, and I hope it comes together at the right time.”
Amusan, a three-time (consecutive) Diamond League winner, two-time Commonwealth Games gold medalist, two-time African champion, and three-time African Games gold medalist, has participated in two Olympic Games (Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020).
She didn’t make it beyond the heats on her debut appearance in 2016 and finished fourth at the last edition in Tokyo, marginally missing out on the podium.
She had since turned her Olympic disappointments around by claiming the world title and world record the following year before adding two more Diamond League titles, among others.
Olaitan Ibrahim