You know what’s wild?
Doing the impossible once… then doing it again just because some people didn’t believe you the first time.
Tobi Amusan didn’t just break a world record in 2022; she shattered it. Then, before anyone could finish raising their eyebrows, she ran again and left the world speechless. Twice in one night.
Tobi Amusan – The Race That Shocked the World
When Nigerian track star Tobi Amusan stepped onto the world stage for the 100-meter hurdles at the 2022 World Athletics Championships, not many people were betting on her. She wasn’t the name everyone expected to trend. But she had something stronger than applause or predictions; she had quiet confidence, and that confidence showed up. Big time.
Tobi clocked a jaw-dropping 12.12 seconds, smashing the world record held by American Kendra Harrison. That wasn’t just fast; it was historic. Kendra’s record in 2016 had barely edged out a time that had stood for 28 years. But here came Tobi, slicing almost a tenth of a second off it like it was nothing.
The stadium erupted. The internet went mad. Nigeria lit up with pride.
But then… the scrutiny began.
It’s funny how success makes some people squint. Instead of clapping, they start checking the fine print.
“Is it real?”
“Did she cheat?”
“Maybe it was the shoes.”
“Was the clock working?”
Seriously?
Tobi’s choice of shoe, Adidas Adizero Avantis, became headline news. Designed for distance runners, they were not even what elite hurdlers typically wear. But guess what? They were perfectly legal. She wasn’t cheating, she was adapting because behind the scenes, Tobi had been dealing with tendonitis in her knee. Those shoes helped reduce the strain.
Even then, the questions didn’t stop.
How could five out of the eight runners in her race all hit personal bests? Was the track too fast? Was the timing accurate?
Everything was checked. Everything was clean, but doubt has a funny way of lingering when you’re not who they expected to win.
So what did Tobi do? She ran again, just hours later, in the finals, Tobi Amusan clocked a 12.06. Yes. Even faster than the record she just broke.
Two record-shattering performances. One night.
Cue stunned silence.
Except this time, the wind decided to mess with the moment. A tailwind of 2.5 meters per second made the final time ineligible for record purposes.
What about the semifinal record? That sweet 12.12? Totally legal. The wind reading was 0.9 m/s. The track was fine. The shoes were legal. The timer was accurate.
And just like that, the doubters were silenced. They said she couldn’t, so she did it twice!
This isn’t just a story about hurdles and records. This is about what happens when you rise and how the world reacts when you rise too fast, too boldly, too confidently.
What happens when people start doubting your greatness? because they will. Oh, they definitely will.
Tobi’s story is one a lot of us can relate to.
You do your best, you deliver, you show results, and suddenly, people start zooming in, trying to find the flaws in your success. Maybe they can’t believe it. Maybe they don’t want to.
But you know what? That’s their problem. Not yours. When people don’t know how to box you in, they get uncomfortable, and instead of expanding their understanding, they shrink their support. They’ll call it luck. They’ll say it’s your tools. They’ll question your worth.
Just like they did to Tobi.
What do you do? You show up again. You do it again and again until there’s no more room for doubt.
It takes guts to stand tall when people are dissecting your every move. It takes even more to show up again and perform at your best, knowing full well that some will still find a way to question it, but your confidence can’t be built on external applause. It has to be internal and unshakeable.
Tobi didn’t argue with the critics. She let her spikes do the talking.
So the next time someone doubts you, questions your success, or tries to downplay your efforts, channel that same quiet power. Let them whisper. Let them wonder. Then go out there and break your own record. Twice, if you have to.
Success can trigger people’s insecurities. Sometimes their doubt isn’t even about you; it’s about what you represent. Their own unfulfilled potential. Their own fear of being left behind.
Now, here’s the flip side of this whole thing.
While it’s powerful to rise above doubt and stand strong in your confidence, it’s just as important to not become the person who constantly questions or downplays other people’s success. Yes.
Sometimes it’s hard to clap when it feels like nothing is working out for you. When you’re waiting for your own breakthrough, watching someone else have theirs can sting a little, but growth means learning to celebrate others even when you’re still in the waiting room.
Give people their flowers while they can still smell them. Don’t let envy whisper lies into your heart that turn celebration into comparison. Understand that someone else’s win doesn’t take anything away from yours.
Your moment is still valid. Your time will still come, and when it does, don’t forget to clap for others too. Even after you’ve had your own spotlight. Especially then, because the world needs more of that: more light, more love, more genuine cheerleaders.
So while you’re breaking records and proving doubters wrong, also be someone who roots for others out loud. We rise higher when we rise together (in Davido’s voice, “We rise by lifting others” 😉)
Stay frosty!
Disclaimer:
This post is written for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on publicly available sources, and every effort has been made to present facts accurately and respectfully. There is no intent to defame, sensationalise, or invade the privacy of any individual or group involved. The purpose of this post is to inspire underdogs everywhere to keep believing in themselves no matter who doubts them.
They said she couldn’t, so she did it twice… Such a powerful piece. Great perspective.