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Nijel Amos

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Nijel Amos
Amos at the 2017 World Championships in Athletics in London
Personal information
Born (1994-03-15) 15 March 1994 (age 30)
Marobela, Botswana
Height1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight65 kg (143 lb)
Sport
CountryBotswana
SportAthletics
Event800 metres
Achievements and titles
Personal bests
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Botswana
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2012 London 800 m
Diamond League
First place 2014 800 m
First place 2015 800 m
First place 2017 800 m
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 2014 Glasgow 800 m
All-Africa Games
Gold medal – first place 2015 Brazzaville 800 m
African Championships
Gold medal – first place 2014 Marrakech 800 m
Gold medal – first place 2014 Marrakech 4x400 m relay
Gold medal – first place 2016 Durban 800 m
Gold medal – first place 2018 Asaba 800 m
Universiade
Gold medal – first place 2013 Kazan 800 m
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2012 Barcelona 800 m
African Junior Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Gaborone 800 m
Commonwealth Youth Games
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Douglas 800 m
Representing Africa
Continental Cup
Gold medal – first place 2014 Marrakech 800 m
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Ostrava 800 m

Nijel Carlos Amilfitano Amos (born 15 March 1994)[1] is a Botswana middle-distance runner who competes in the 800 metres. He won the silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics, which was Botswana's first-ever Olympic medal. Amos claimed gold medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2015 All-Africa Games. At the African Championships in Athletics, he took golds in 2014, 2016 and 2018.

He won the gold medal in his specialist event at the 2012 World Under-20 Championships. Amos is the Botswana record holder for the 800 m, his mark is also the world U20 record. He is a three-time Diamond League 800 m winner.

On 12 July 2022, Amos was provisionally suspended from competition for testing positive for metabolite GW1516. 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

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Nijel Amos hails from Marobela village in the north-eastern part of Botswana. He attended Shangano Community Junior Secondary School (2007 to 2009) in Nshakashongwe and Tutume McConnell Community College (2010 to 2011).[3]

Running career

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At the 2011 African Junior Athletics Championships, Amos ran a Botswana junior 800 metres record of 1:47.28. Further improving on his record, Amos finished fifth in the event at the 2011 World Youth Championships in Athletics.[4]

In 2012, Amos improved his national senior record to 1:43.11 during a race in Mannheim. He became champion at the 2012 World Junior Championships in Athletics, finishing in a new championship record of 1:43.79. At the 2012 London Olympics, Amos won a silver medal in the men's 800 m event, the first Olympic medal for his country.[5] His time of 1:41.73 established a new world junior record behind the new world record set by David Rudisha, and is currently tied with Sebastian Coe as the eighth fastest individual in the history of the event.[6]

After an injury-filled 2013 season, Amos returned to form in 2014. At the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League meet, he set a meet record and world-leading time of 1:43.63.[7] At the Monaco Diamond 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 the 2012 Olympic final. At the Glasgow 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 the 2016 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 the Parade of Nations.[12]

He finished fifth in the 800 m at the 2017 World Championships in Athletics in London.[1]

Amos ran a 1:42.14 in the summer of 2018 at the Monaco Diamond League meet, taking first place. It was his best race in the 800 m since his silver medal effort in the 2012 Olympics.

At 2019's Monaco Diamond League, he ran 1:41.89, hitting 600 m at 1:15.22.

At the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Amos competed in the 800 m event, finishing first in his heat. In the semifinal, he collided with Isaiah 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

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On 12 July 2022, Amos was provisionally suspended from competition by the Athletics Integrity Unit after he tested positive for GW1516, a banned hormone and metabolic modulator 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

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Amos (L in blue) races the 800 m at the 2017 World Championships in Athletics in London, where he finished fifth.

All information taken from World Athletics profile.[1]

International competitions

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Representing  Botswana
Year Competition Venue Position Event Time
2011 African Junior Championships Gaborone, Botswana 3rd 800 m 1:47.38 NJR
World Youth Championships Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France 5th 800 m 1:47.28 PB
2012 African Championships Porto-Novo, Benin – (h) 800 m DNS
– (f) 4 × 400 m relay DQ
World Junior Championships Barcelona, Spain 1st 800 m 1:43.79 CR
Olympic Games London, United Kingdom 2nd 800 m 1:41.73 WJR NR
2013 Universiade Kazan, Russia – (h) 400 m DNF
1st 800 m 1:46.53
2014 Commonwealth Games Glasgow, United Kingdom 1st 800 m 1:45.18
African Championships Marrakesh, Morocco 1st 800 m 1:48.54
1st 4 × 400 m relay 3:01.89 NR
Continental Cup Marrakesh, Morocco 1st 800 m 1:44.88
2015 World Championships Beijing, China 17th (sf) 800 m 1:47.96
9th (h) 4 × 400 m relay 2:59.95 NR
African Games Brazzaville, Congo Republic 1st 800 m 1:50.45
2nd 4 × 400 m relay 3:00.95
2016 African Championships Durban, South Africa 1st 800 m 1:45.11
Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 49th (h) 800 m 1:50.46
2017 World Championships London, United Kingdom 5th 800 m 1:45.83
14th (h) 4 × 400 m relay 3:06.50
2018 Commonwealth Games Gold Coast, Australia 8th 800 m 1:48.45
African Championships Asaba, Nigeria 1st 800 m 1:45.20
– (f) 4 × 400 m relay DNF
Continental Cup Ostrava, Czech Republic 3rd 800 m 1:46.77
2019 World Championships Doha, Qatar – (h) 800 m DNS
2021 Olympic Games Tokyo, Japan 8th 800 m 1:46.41

Circuit wins and titles

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800 metres wins, other events specified in parentheses

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Nijel AMOS – Athlete Profile". World Athletics. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Nijel Amos: Botswana runner receives three-year doping ban". BBC Sport. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  3. ^ Patricia, Edwin (13 August 2012). "The story of Nijel Amos". Mmegi.
  4. ^ "BOPA | 04 July 2011". Archived from the original on 12 July 2011. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
  5. ^ "Nijel Amos of Botswana wins silver, Timothy Kitum of Kenya wins bronze in men's 800-meter race – london2012.com". Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  6. ^ "800 Metres – men – senior – outdoor". iaaf.org. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  7. ^ "Surprise, Nijel Amos steals away with the Prefontaine Classic 800 meters". The Oregonian. June 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  8. ^ Mike Rowbottom (18 July 2014). "Kiplagat and Amos are surprise packages in Monaco Diamond League meeting". insidethegames.biz – Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games News. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  9. ^ "David Rudisha is beaten by Nijel Amos in 800m final at Commonwealth Games as Hampden Park witnesses shock". Telegraph.co.uk. 31 July 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  10. ^ "Rio 2016". Rio 2016. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  11. ^ "Rio 2016". Rio 2016. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  12. ^ "The Flagbearers for the Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony". 16 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  13. ^ American Isaiah Jewett's act of sportsmanship after being tripped is bigger than a win
  14. ^ "No hard feelings: Amos and Jewett tangle, finish together". Associated Press. 1 August 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  15. ^ "Olympic medallist Nijel Amos suspended for doping". Canadian Running Magazine. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
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Records
Preceded by Men's World Junior Record Holder, 800 metres
9 August 2012 – present 		Incumbent
Olympic Games
Preceded by Flagbearer for  Botswana
Rio de Janeiro 2016 		Succeeded by
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