Jude Monye



Jude Monye (born 16 November 1973) is a Nigerian athlete who specializes in the 400 metres. He is of Onicha-Ugbo, Delta State of Nigeria origin. Monye came to the United States to attend Mississippi State University, where he obtained a degree in geology. While attending school, he won the diversity visa lottery and was allowed to become a legal permanent resident of the United States. He became a citizen on 20 February 2004.

His personal best is 45.16, set during the 1995 World Championships in Athletics where he reached the semi-final. The same year he won a bronze medal at the All-Africa Games. Monye was a part of the Nigerian team that won the silver medal in the 4 x 400 metres relay at the 2000 Olympics. He also competed in the individual contest, but was knocked out in the heats.

Olympics Controversy
During the 2000 Olympics, the American team won the gold medal, with the Nigerian team finishing second. However, Antonio Pettigrew acknowledged that he had used performance-enhancing drugs, along with two other members of the relay team, and was therefore stripped of his medal. The awards were not immediately reallocated to the runners-up Nigeria that Monye raced on, despite the likelihood of it.

On 21 July 2012, the 2000 Olympics 4 × 400 m relay medals were reallocated after the USA team was stripped of the gold medal, meaning Monye and Nigeria are the gold medalists.