Nigerian track queen Tobi Amusan has been named the 2022 Africa Female Athlete of the Year by the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) following a record-breaking season in the past 11 months.
In 2022, Amusan became Nigeria’s first World Champion when she set a new world record of 12.12 secs to win the 100m hurdles at World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, United States.
Amusan is also African Championship, Diamond League, and Commonwealth Games 100m hurdles champion with a competition record time respectively in 2022 alone to emerge number one female athlete on the continent.
Faith Kipyegoner of Kenya, who was a two-time Olympic gold medalist, came second in Africa following her 1500m triumph at the World Athletics Championships and the 2022 Commonwealth Games, while Letesenbet Gidey of Ethiopia came third with her 1000m triumph in Eugene.
For the male category, Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkalil emerged as the 2022 Africa Male Athlete of the Year. The 3000m Olympic champion won gold at the 2022 World Athletics Championships and was also a Diamond League champion.
Kenyan long-distance runner, Eliud Kipchoge, who won gold at the 2022 Berlin Marathon, came second on the continent while Emmanuel Korir, a Kenyan middle-distance runner, who won gold at the World Athletics Championships and Diamond League finished third on the list.
Meanwhile, Letsile Tebogo of Botswana is the best male prospect from Africa, while Kenya’s Faith Cherotich is the best female prospect.
Credit: Peoples gazzette