The The President of the Nigerian Athletics Federation Tonobok Okowa has backed 100m hurdles world champion and record holder Tobi Amusan to win the 2022 Women’s World Athlete of the Year Award.
Amusan made the list of five finalists along with Shelley-Anne Fraser-Pryce, Sydney McLaughlin, Yulimar Rojas and Kimberly Garcia for the Women’s World Athlete of the Year Award, according to a statement released by World Athletics on Monday.
All five athletes produced outstanding performances at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Oregon; World Indoor Athletics Championship, Belgrade; one-day meeting circuit and other events around the world.
Amusan has had a fantastic 2022, breaking the 100m hurdles world record en route to winning gold at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon in 12.12 seconds.
Amusan also set a new record when she successfully defended her Diamond League title, finishing in 12.29 seconds in the women’s 100m hurdles at this year’s Diamond League in Zurich.
The 25-year-old also won a gold medal in the women’s 100m hurdles at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
The Commonwealth and African 100m hurdles champion is the first Nigerian female athlete to be nominated for the glamor award and will be up against four other female athletes.
Okowa believes Amusan has a chance to win the prestigious award and appealed to Nigerians to support him.
“If he has come this far, it is possible for him to win, the other four candidates are not better than him,” Okowa said. PUNCH.
“He is an athlete who has broken two records in one day. And since then, Amusa has been running and winning. He also proved himself at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games with a Games record.
The three-way voting process to determine the finalists ended on October 31, and the winner will be announced on December 5 on World Athletics’ social media platforms.
According to World Athletics, a record 1.3 million votes were cast via email and online voting via World Athletics social media platforms.
The vote of the World Athletics Council counted for 50% of the result, while the vote of the World Athletics Family and the public counted for 25% of the final result.
“We have to be encouraged and I pray to win the prize in the end. It’s a good thing and will serve as a mentor to many other young athletes and make them believe that they can do it too. There could be many other lovers.’
