Nigerian hurdling sensation Tobi Amusan is reportedly training under the legendary Jamaican coach Glen Mills in a bid to revive her career following a challenging period since her historic 2022 season.
Amusan, who made history at the 2022 World Championships in Oregon by becoming Nigeria’s first world champion and breaking the world record twice (a legal 12.12 seconds in the semifinals and a wind-assisted 12.06 seconds in the final), has struggled to maintain peak performance over the past two years. Reports from Jamaica suggest she has been working with Mills, though it remains unclear whether this is a permanent coaching switch or a temporary training arrangement.
There has been no official confirmation from Amusan, Mills, or her current coach, Lacena Golding-Clarke, who has guided her since 2016 through college at the University of Texas El Paso (UTEP) and her rise to global prominence.
If true, the move would mark a significant shift in Amusan’s career, potentially ending her long-standing partnership with Golding-Clarke. Under her guidance, Amusan achieved global success, but the past two seasons have been challenging. She faced a doping-related charge, later cleared by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but the controversy disrupted her season. Amusan also missed the podium at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest and failed to qualify for the final at the Paris 2024 Olympics—a first since the 2016 Rio Games.
With Mills’ reputation for transforming athletes into world-beaters—most notably Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake, the two fastest men in history—there is hope that his mentorship could help Amusan rediscover her form. However, adapting to a new coaching style after years of streamlined training with Golding-Clarke could present its own challenges.
As a three-time Diamond League champion and one of the sport’s most resilient competitors, Amusan is widely tipped for a major comeback next season. Whether this reported collaboration with Mills will reignite her career remains to be seen, but Nigerian athletics fans will undoubtedly watch closely, hoping for a triumphant return to the top for their hurdling queen.
