Nijel Amos

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Nijel Amos
Nijel Amos.jpg
Amos at Mannheim Competition 2012
Personal information
Born (1994-03-15) 15 March 1994 (age 27)
Marobela, Botswana
Height1.79 m (5 ft 10+1⁄2 in)
Weight65 kg (143 lb)
Websitenijelamos.com
Sport
SportTrack
Event(s)800 metres
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)200 m: 21.34 [1]
400 m: 44.99[1]
800 m: 1:41.73[1] WJR
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Botswana
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2012 London 800 m
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 2014 Glasgow 800 m
Universiade
Gold medal – first place 2013 Kazan 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
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 (orthographic projection).svg 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) is a Botswanan[2] middle-distance runner who competes in the 800 metres. He won silver at the 2012 Summer Olympics, which was Botswana's first ever Olympic medal.

Early life[]

Nijel Amos is from Marobela village in the North Eastern part of Botswana. He went to Nyamambisi Primary School in Marobela, Shangano Community Junior Secondary School (2007 to 2009) in Nshakashongwe and Tutume McConnell Community College (2010 to 2011).[3]

Running career[]

Results[]

At the 2011 African Junior Athletics Championships, Amos ran a Botswana Junior Record time of 1:47.28. Further improving on his record, Amos finished fifth in the 800 metres 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. In the 2012 Summer Olympics, Amos won a silver medal in the men's 800 m race, 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 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 2014 Prefontaine Classic, Amos set a meet record and world-leading time of 1:43.63.[7] At the Herculis IAAF Diamond League, he again set a meet record and world leading mark of 1:42.45.[8] Beating Rudisha for the 2nd time on the season, his performance was the fastest 800m race since the men's 800 m race. At the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Amos won the 800 meter gold medal in 1:45.18. In the tactical affair, Amos maneuvered out of a box to pass World Record holder David Rudisha in the last 50 meters.[9]

At the 2016 Summer Olympics, Amos competed in the 800 m and the 4x400 relay. He finished 7th in his heat for the 800 m and did not qualify for the semifinals.[10] The Botswana 4 × 400 m relay team finished 5th in the finals.[11] Amos was the flag bearer for Botswana during the Parade of Nations.[12]

He finished 5th in the 800m at the 2017 World Athletics Championships.

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, Amos ran 1:41.89, hitting 600 m at 1:15.22.

At the 2020 Summer Olympics, Amos competed in the 800 m, finishing first in his heat. In the semifinal he collided with Isaiah Jewett, resulting in them both falling to the ground. Amos was later reinstated into the final on appeal.[13]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c All-Athletics. "Profile of Nijel Amos".
  2. ^ "AMOS WRITES HIS-STORY...BREAKS BOTSWANA'S OLYMPIC DUCK". Sunday Standard. 13 August 2012.
  3. ^ Patricia, Edwin (13 August 2012). "The story of Nijel Amos". Mmegi.
  4. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 12 July 2011. Retrieved 9 May 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  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. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  8. ^ Mike Rowbottom. "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. ^ "No hard feelings: Amos and Jewett tangle, finish together". Associated Press. 1 August 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

External links[]

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
Amantle Montsho Rajab Otukile Mahommed
Retrieved from ""