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.
.jpg) Amos at the 2017 World Championships in Athletics in London | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 15 March 1994 Marobela, Botswana | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 65 kg (143 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | Botswana | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event | 800 metres | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal bests | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
.svg){kind=small}
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
editNijel 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
editAt 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
editOn 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
edit.jpg)
All information taken from World Athletics profile.[1]
International competitions
editCircuit wins and titles
edit- Diamond League Overall 800 metres winner:
2014, 2015 - Diamond League 800 metres champion: 2017
- 800 metres wins, other events specified in parentheses
- 2014 (3): Eugene Prefontaine Classic (WL MR), 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
editAs of 29 September 2024, Amos holds the following track records for 800 metres.
| Location | Time | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Mannheim | 1:43.11 | 09/06/2012 |
| Zagreb | 1:44.08 | 04/09/2018 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "Nijel AMOS – Athlete Profile". World Athletics. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
- ^ a b "Nijel Amos: Botswana runner receives three-year doping ban". BBC Sport. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
- ^ Patricia, Edwin (13 August 2012). "The story of Nijel Amos". Mmegi.
- ^ "BOPA | 04 July 2011". Archived from the original on 12 July 2011. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
- ^ "Nijel Amos of Botswana wins silver, Timothy Kitum of Kenya wins bronze in men's 800-meter race – london2012.com". Retrieved 9 August 2012.
- ^ "800 Metres – men – senior – outdoor". iaaf.org. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
- ^ "Surprise, Nijel Amos steals away with the Prefontaine Classic 800 meters". The Oregonian. June 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Rio 2016". Rio 2016. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
- ^ "Rio 2016". Rio 2016. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
- ^ "The Flagbearers for the Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony". 16 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
- ^ 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. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
- ^ "Olympic medallist Nijel Amos suspended for doping". Canadian Running Magazine. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
External links
edit
