Anthony Nlebem.
Following Tobi Amusan‘s nomination for the Female Athlete of the Year Award by World Athletics on Wednesday, Nigerians took to social media to support the world’s 100m hurdles champion and record holder.
Amusan, also the Commonwealth Games champion, becomes the first Nigerian athlete in history to be nominated for the award.
The 25-year-old is among the 10 women athletes released by the World Athletics as nominees for the award.
Former Vice President of Nigeria and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party Atiku Abubakar stated on his official Twitter handle, “Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan gets my vote as Female Athlete of the Year, and should get yours too.”
Veteran journalist and politician Dele Momodu added, “Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan gets my vote as Female Athlete of the Year, and should get yours too.”
Also, another social media user Isah Marlyn wrote, “Tobi wins it, to me. Nobody else comes close for now. She is the favourite of every lover of athletics, I know.”
Mozez Brown added, “We have the population as a nation. Let’s help Tobi win it. Tobi for Athlete of the Year.”
DaddyMO, a Chartered Chemical Engineer, also tweeted, “Tobi Amusan OON deserves this award for back-to-back world records in the women’s 100m hurdles at the world athletics championships and is the current World, Commonwealth and African champion.”
While reacting to her nomination, Amusan wrote on Facebook, “I’m so honoured to be selected as a World Athlete of the Year nominee and the first Nigerian ever to reach this height. I have twice been named Nigerian Athlete of the Year by the Athletic Heat platform, but this is my first international nomination and I want us to win it!”
Voting for the award closes October 31. At the end of the voting process, five women and five men finalists will be announced by World Athletics.
The winners will be revealed on World Athletics’ social media platforms early December.