Nijel Amos
 Amos at the2017 World Championships in Athleticsin London | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 15 March 1994 Marobela,Botswana | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 65 kg (143 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Country | Botswana | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event | 800 metres | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Nijel Carlos Amilfitano Amos(born 15 March 1994)[1]is aBotswanamiddle-distance runnerwho competes in the800 metres.He won the silver medal at the2012 London Olympics,which was Botswana's first-ever Olympic medal. Amos claimed gold medals at the2014 Commonwealth Gamesand2015 All-Africa Games.At theAfrican Championships in Athletics,he took golds in2014,2016and2018.
He won the gold medal in his specialist event at the2012 World Under-20 Championships.Amos is theBotswana recordholder for the 800 m, his mark is also theworld U20 record.He is a three-timeDiamond League800 m winner.
On 12 July 2022, Amos was provisionally suspended from competition for testing positive for metaboliteGW1516.On 3 May 2023, it was announced that he had received a backdated three-year doping ban, which would end on 11 July 2025.[2]
Early life
[edit]Nijel Amos hails fromMarobelavillage in the north-eastern part of Botswana. He attended Shangano Community Junior Secondary School (2007 to 2009) in Nshakashongwe andTutume McConnell Community College(2010 to 2011).[3]
Running career
[edit]At the2011 African Junior Athletics Championships,Amos ran a Botswana junior800 metresrecord of 1:47.28. Further improving on his record, Amos finished fifth in theeventat the2011 World Youth Championships in Athletics.[4]
In 2012, Amos improved his national senior record to 1:43.11 during a race inMannheim.He became champion at the2012 World Junior Championships in Athletics,finishing in a new championship record of 1:43.79. At the2012 London Olympics,Amos won a silver medal in themen's 800 m event,the first Olympic medal for his country.[5]His time of 1:41.73 established a newworld junior recordbehind the new world record set byDavid Rudisha,and is currently tied withSebastian Coeas the eighth fastest individual in the history of the event.[6]
After an injury-filled 2013 season, Amos returned to form in 2014. At thePrefontaine ClassicDiamond Leaguemeet, he set a meet record and world-leading time of 1:43.63.[7]At theMonacoDiamond League, he again set a meet record and world leading mark of 1:42.45.[8]Beating Rudisha for the second time in the season, his performance was the fastest 800 m race since the2012 Olympic final.At theGlasgow Commonwealth Games,Amos won the 800 m gold medal in 1:45.18. In the tactical affair, he maneuvered out of a box to pass world record holder David Rudisha in the last 50 metres.[9]
At the2016 Rio Olympics,Amos competed in the 800 m and 4 x 400 m relay. He finished seventh in his heat in his individual event and did not qualify for the semifinals.[10]The Botswana 4 × 400 m relay team finished fifth in the finals.[11]Amos was the flag bearer for Botswana during theParade of Nations.[12]
Hefinished fifthin the 800 m at the2017 World Championships in Athleticsin London.[1]
Amos ran a 1:42.14 in the summer of 2018 at the MonacoDiamond Leaguemeet, taking first place. It was his best race in the 800 m since his silver medal effort in the 2012 Olympics.
At 2019's MonacoDiamond League,he ran 1:41.89, hitting 600 m at 1:15.22.
At the delayed2020 Tokyo Olympics,Amos competed in the800 m event,finishing first in his heat. In the semifinal, he collided withIsaiah Jewett,resulting in them both falling to the ground. Jewett helped Amos to his feet in a sportsmanship scene that was later repeated in commercials. The two jogged across the finish line, Amos being granted a place in the final by the referee.[13][14]
2023: Doping ban
[edit]On 12 July 2022, Amos was provisionally suspended from competition by theAthletics Integrity Unitafter he tested positive forGW1516,a banned hormone andmetabolicmodulator that is not approved for use in humans.[15]On 3 May 2023, it was announced that he had received backdated three-year doping ban which would end on 11 July 2025.[2]
Achievements
[edit]
All information taken fromWorld Athleticsprofile.[1]
International competitions
[edit]Circuit wins and titles
[edit]- Diamond LeagueOverall 800 metres winner:
2014,2015 - Diamond League 800 metres champion:2017
- 800 metres wins, other events specified in parentheses
- 2014(3):Eugene Prefontaine Classic(WLMR),Monaco Herculis(WL MR),Zürich Weltklasse
- 2015(3):Birmingham British Grand Prix,Lausanne Athletissima,London Anniversary Games
- 2016(1):Doha Qatar Athletic Super Grand Prix(4 × 400 m relay)
- 2017(5):Paris Meeting(SB), London (WL),Rabat Meeting International,Birmingham,Brussels Memorial Van Damme
- 2018(1): Monaco (WL MR)
- 2019(3): Doha (WL), Rabat, Monaco (WL MR)
- 2021(1): Monaco (WL)
Track records
[edit]As of 29 September 2024, Amos holds the following track records for800 metres.
| Location | Time | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Mannheim | 1:43.11 | 09/06/2012 |
| Zagreb | 1:44.08 | 04/09/2018 |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^abc"Nijel AMOS – Athlete Profile".World Athletics.Retrieved1 January2023.
- ^ab"Nijel Amos: Botswana runner receives three-year doping ban".BBC Sport.3 May 2023.Retrieved3 May2023.
- ^Patricia, Edwin (13 August 2012)."The story of Nijel Amos".Mmegi.
- ^"BOPA | 04 July 2011".Archived fromthe originalon 12 July 2011.Retrieved9 May2012.
- ^"Nijel Amos of Botswana wins silver, Timothy Kitum of Kenya wins bronze in men's 800-meter race – london2012.com".Retrieved9 August2012.
- ^"800 Metres – men – senior – outdoor".iaaf.org.Retrieved30 October2014.
- ^"Surprise, Nijel Amos steals away with the Prefontaine Classic 800 meters".The Oregonian.June 2014.Retrieved30 October2014.
- ^Mike Rowbottom (18 July 2014)."Kiplagat and Amos are surprise packages in Monaco Diamond League meeting".insidethegames.biz – Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games News.Retrieved30 October2014.
- ^"David Rudisha is beaten by Nijel Amos in 800m final at Commonwealth Games as Hampden Park witnesses shock".Telegraph.co.uk.31 July 2014.Retrieved30 October2014.
- ^"Rio 2016".Rio 2016.Archived fromthe originalon 26 August 2016.Retrieved25 August2016.
- ^"Rio 2016".Rio 2016.Archived fromthe originalon 26 August 2016.Retrieved25 August2016.
- ^"The Flagbearers for the Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony".16 August 2016.Retrieved25 August2016.
- ^American Isaiah Jewett's act of sportsmanship after being tripped is bigger than a win
- ^"No hard feelings: Amos and Jewett tangle, finish together".Associated Press.1 August 2021.Retrieved2 August2021.
- ^"Olympic medallist Nijel Amos suspended for doping".Canadian Running Magazine.13 July 2022.Retrieved13 July2022.
External links
[edit]
- Nijel AmosatWorld Athletics
- Nijel AmosatDiamond League
- Nijel AmosatOlympics.com
- Nijel AmosatOlympedia
African Championsin men's800 metres | |
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Commonwealth Gameschampions in men's800 metres | |
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| 800 metres (1970–present) |
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World University Gameschampions in men's800 metres | |
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World U20 Championsin men's800 metres | |
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- 1994 births
- Living people
- People from the Central District (Botswana)
- Botswana male middle-distance runners
- Botswana sportspeople in doping cases
- Olympic male middle-distance runners
- Olympic athletes for Botswana
- Olympic silver medalists for Botswana
- Olympic silver medalists in athletics (track and field)
- Athletes (track and field) at the 2012 Summer Olympics
- Athletes (track and field) at the 2016 Summer Olympics
- Medalists at the 2012 Summer Olympics
- Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Botswana
- Commonwealth Games medallists in athletics
- Athletes (track and field) at the 2014 Commonwealth Games
- Athletes (track and field) at the 2018 Commonwealth Games
- Universiade medalists in athletics (track and field)
- African Games gold medalists for Botswana
- African Games medalists in athletics (track and field)
- Athletes (track and field) at the 2015 African Games
- World Athletics Championships athletes for Botswana
- Universiade medalists for Botswana
- African Championships in Athletics winners
- Diamond League winners
- IAAF Continental Cup winners
- Medalists at the 2013 Summer Universiade
- Athletes (track and field) at the 2020 Summer Olympics
- Medallists at the 2014 Commonwealth Games