![]() Amos at the 2017 World Championships in Athletics in London | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Born | Marobela, Botswana | 15 March 1994|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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
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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
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
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 was tied with Sebastian Coe for the third fastest individual ever.[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
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
![](Https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Athletics_%2835661396894%29.jpg/260px-Athletics_%2835661396894%29.jpg)
All information taken from World Athletics profile.[1]
International competitions
Circuit wins and titles
- 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)
See also
References
- ^ 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.