Amusan storms to Paris Diamond League victory

...Victory signals return to best form ahead of Commonwealth Games

By Maxwell Kumoye

World record holder Tobi Amusan continued her impressive return to form by producing a commanding display at the Paris Diamond League, where she first qualified for the final by winning the opening heat of the women's 100m hurdles in 12.39 seconds (+0.4m/s).

Amusan looked comfortable throughout the race as she crossed the line ahead of Dutch hurdler Nadine Visser, who finished second in a season's best of 12.44s, while Jamaican champion Demisha Roswell placed third in 12.46s to also secure qualification for the final.

Carrying that momentum into the final, the Nigerian sprint hurdling queen delivered an even more impressive performance, storming to victory in a season's best time of 12.28 seconds.

Competing in ideal conditions with a legal tailwind of +0.7m/s, Amusan exploded out of the blocks from lane four with a reaction time of 0.135 seconds before producing a technically sound race to comfortably defeat a quality field.

American Grace Stark finished second in 12.38s, just ahead of compatriot Alaysha Johnson, who clocked 12.39s, while Dutch women Visser improved on her heat performance to finish fourth in another season's best of 12.41s.

The victory represents another significant milestone in Amusan's resurgence this season as the reigning Commonwealth champion continues to build momentum ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

After navigating a difficult spell over the past two seasons, the Nigerian star has steadily rediscovered the form that saw her dominate the global stage.

Her performance in Paris not only produced her fastest time of the season but also showcased improved rhythm between the hurdles, sharper technique, and the explosive finishing speed that has made her one of the world's finest sprint hurdlers.

Amusan's steady progression has been evident with every outing this year, and her commanding performance in Paris suggests she is peaking at the perfect time.

As she prepares to defend her Commonwealth title in Glasgow, she has once again established herself as one of the favourites for gold.

The victory also earned Amusan the maximum 21 Diamond League qualification points, moving her to the top of the qualification rankings after four of the eight qualifying meetings and strengthening her bid to reach the Diamond League Final.

With the World Championships also approaching, Amusan's latest performance sends a strong message to her rivals.

The Nigerian appears to have rediscovered the speed, confidence, and technical precision that propelled her to the world record and global success, making her one of the athletes to watch in the months ahead.

For Team Nigeria, Amusan's return to top form is a timely boost, reinforcing hopes that one of the country's greatest track stars is ready to deliver another memorable championship performance on the road to Glasgow.

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