Sports minister Sunday Dare has called on Nigerians to keep voting for Tobi Amusan in her bid to win the 2022 World Athletics Women’s Athlete of the Year award.
The 25-year-old Amusan is nominated for the big award along with nine other top women athletes, and she is aiming to become the first Nigerian to win it.
“TOBI AMUSAN NEEDS OUR VOTES. Here is why: Nigeria’s golden girl has done it again! The reigning world 100m hurdles champion and record holder has been nominated among the best 10 women athletes in the world to vie for the World Athletics women’s athlete of the year 2022,” Dare tweeted today.
“She has done her part by getting herself to be nominated among the 10 best in the world, it is now our duty as Nigerians to help her achieve this historic feat.
“She needs us to massively vote for her in this contest of the best of the best. Our votes will account for one quarter of the total votes she will need to get the crown. Please get on the social media platforms of World Athletics to start voting, NOW!”
Amusan became the first Nigerian in history to win a World Athletics Championships title and also set a world record (12.12 seconds in women’s 100m hurdles), feats she achieved within hours of each other in Oregon, United States of America in July.
She also made history in August at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham when she became the first Nigerian to successfully defend her track and field title.
She then retained her Diamond League trophy in September after becoming the first Nigerian to win it in 2021.
The former University of Texas in El Paso athlete is up for the award with the likes of legendary sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica 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 World Athletics Council and the World Athletics Family will cast their votes by email, while fans can vote online via the World Athletics social media platforms: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
Individual graphics for each nominee have been posted on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube, and a ‘like’ on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube or a retweet on Twitter will count as one vote.
Voting is open until midnight on October 31 and the winner will be announced in early December, according to World Athletics.
Amusan is leading the polls on Twitter and Instagram at the moment but there are still 15 days left to vote.
