Nigerian sprint hurdler Tobi Amusan has been named as one of the nominees for the Women’s World Athlete of the Year.
Track and field global governing body World Athletics announced the nominees today while declaring online voting open.
“World Athletics is pleased to confirm a list of 10 nominees for Women’s World Athlete of the Year,” the organisation said on its website.
“These athletes were selected by an international panel of athletics experts, comprising representatives from all six continental areas of World Athletics.
“It has been another memorable year for the sport and the nominations reflect some of the standout performances achieved at the World Athletics Championships Oregon22, World Athletics Indoor Championships Belgrade 22, one-day meeting circuits and other events around the world.”
Amusan, 25, had a remarkable 2022, setting a new women’s 100m hurdles world record of 12.12 seconds and winning the World Athletics Championships gold medal in her specialty.
She became the first Nigerian to set an individual world record in athletics and the country’s first world champion at the global event in Oregon, United States of America in July.
Amusan had broken the African record earlier, and she completed the successful season by retaining her Commonwealth Games and Diamond League titles in August and September respectively.
She is nominated along with nine other women athletes for the big award.
Among them are the legendary Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who also won the world and Diamond League titles in 100m, and American Sydney McLaughlin, who broke the 400m hurdles world record twice this year and claimed the world title.
The other nominees include world shot put champion Chase Ealey from USA, world and Diamond League 200m champion Shericka Jackson from Jamaica, world and Diamond League 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon from Kenya, and world 400m champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo from Bahamas.
The winner of the award will be determined by votes from World Athletics Council members and athletics fans on social media platforms.
Voting will close at midnight on October 31 and World Athletics explained that at the conclusion of the voting process, five finalists will be announced.
The winners will be revealed on World Athletics’ social media platforms in early December.
