Nijel Amos

Nijel Carlos Amilfitano Amos (born 15 March 1994) 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 backdated three-year doping ban which would end on 11 July 2025.

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).

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.

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. 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.

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. At the Monaco Diamond League, he again set a meet record and world leading mark of 1:42.45. 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.

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. The Botswana 4 × 400 m relay team finished fifth in the finals. Amos was the flag bearer for Botswana during the Parade of Nations.

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

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.

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. On 3 May 2023, it was announced that he had received backdated three-year doping ban which would end on 11 July 2025.

Achievements


All information taken from World Athletics profile.

Circuit wins and titles

 * Diamond League Overall 800 metres winner: Diamond blue.svg 2014, Diamond blue.svg 2015
 * Diamond League 800 metres champion: Diamond blue.svg 2017
 * 800 metres wins, other events specified in parentheses
 * 2014 (3): Eugene Prefontaine Classic, 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, 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)