Tobi Amusan Withdraws From Diamond League Final, Eyes World Championships.
Tobi Amusan, the Nigerian world record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles, has withdrawn from the 2025 Wanda Diamond League final in Zurich, scheduled for today. The 28-year-old, who qualified as the second-best athlete in her discipline with 27 points, was set to compete for a record-extending fourth Diamond League title but will not take part in the event. She has been replaced by Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas.
Amusan, a three-time Diamond League champion (2021, 2022, and 2023), holds the meet record with a time of 12.29 seconds, set in September 2022 when she claimed her second title. Her decision to pull out has sparked speculation, with a top athletics coach suggesting she may be focusing on avoiding a minor injury ahead of the World Championships in Tokyo, just 14 days away. The coach, speaking anonymously, noted that no athlete of Amusan’s calibre would risk aggravating an issue so close to a major global event.
The final in Zurich will feature a strong field, including reigning world champion Danielle Williams and her Jamaican compatriot Ackera Nugent, alongside Dutch runner Nadine Visser, Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji and Selina von Jackowski, and the American trio of Tonea Marshall, Grace Stark, and Kendra Harrison. Despite her absence, Amusan’s legacy in the Diamond League remains unmatched, having secured three consecutive titles and the world record of 12.12 seconds in 2022.
Amusan’s withdrawal follows a season of consistent performances, including a season’s best of 12.24 seconds in Paris and a second-place finish in Oregon. Her most recent race in Lausanne saw her finish fifth with a time of 12.82 seconds, possibly indicating a stumble that may have influenced her decision to prioritise recovery. Fans and analysts are now looking ahead to Tokyo, where Amusan aims to reclaim her world championship title.