Nia Ali
{{short description|American track and field athlete}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
|name = Nia Ali
|image = Nia Ali (USA) Rio2016.jpg
|caption = Ali at the 2016 Summer Olympics
|fullname = Nia Ali
|nationality = American
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|10|23}}
|birth_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
|height = 5 ft 7 in
|weight = 143 lbs
|country = United States
|sport = Track and field
|event = 100 metres hurdles
|collegeteam = USC Trojans
|team = Nike
|turnedpro = 2011
|coach = John Coghlan
|olympics = 2016
|pb =
100 metres hurdles: 12.30
|medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport|Women's track and field}}
{{MedalCountry|{{USA}}}}
{{Medal|Olympic}}
{{Medal|Silver|2016 Rio de Janeiro|100 m hurdles}}
{{MedalCompetition|World Championships}}
{{MedalGold|2019 Doha|100 m hurdles}}
{{Medal|Competition|World Indoor Championships}}
{{Medal|Gold|2014 Sopot|60 m hurdles}}
{{Medal|Gold|2016 Portland|60 m hurdles}}
{{Medal|Competition|World University Games}}
{{Medal|Gold|2011 Shenzhen|100 m hurdles}}
}}
Nia Ali (born October 23, 1988) is an American track and field athlete, who specializes in the 100 m hurdles, heptathlon, and other events.
She is the 2016 Olympic Silver Medalist in the 100-meter hurdles, the 2019 World champion in the 100-meter hurdles, and twice in a row world indoor champion (2014 Sopot and 2016 Portland) in 60 meters hurdles.
Early life
Raised in the Germantown section of Philadelphia and attending West Catholic Preparatory High School, Ali moved to Pleasantville, New Jersey for her senior year and graduated from Pleasantville High School in 2006.McGarry, Michael. [https://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/olympics/pleasantville-grad-nia-ali-overcame-adversity-to-make-olympic-team/article_afdb904d-3acd-5454-a7b0-3f938ff791cf.html "Pleasantville grad Nia Ali overcame adversity to make Olympic team"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015220804/https://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/olympics/pleasantville-grad-nia-ali-overcame-adversity-to-make-olympic-team/article_afdb904d-3acd-5454-a7b0-3f938ff791cf.html |date=October 15, 2019 }}, The Press of Atlantic City, July 30, 2016. Retrieved October 15, 2019. "The 2006 Pleasantville High School graduate will compete in the 100-meter hurdles when the Olympics begin in Rio de Janeiro on Friday.... Ali moved to Pleasantville for her senior year of high school."
Career
=NCAA=
In college, Ali was the 2011 NCAA leader and NCAA champion for the USC Trojans in the 100 m hurdles in a time of (2.1w) 12.63.{{cite news|url=https://www.dailynews.com/2013/06/22/track-and-field-usc-graduate-nia-ali-clears-big-hurdle-off-to-world-championships/|title=TRACK AND FIELD: USC graduate Nia Ali clears big hurdle, off to World Championships|author=Boal, Eric|date=June 22, 2013|work=Los Angeles Daily News|access-date=October 15, 2019|archive-date=August 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810181228/http://www.dailynews.com/sports/20130622/track-and-field-usc-graduate-nia-ali-clears-big-hurdle-off-to-world-championships|url-status=live}} Ali formerly competed for the Tennessee Volunteers (then the Lady Volunteers) where she was Southeastern Conference champion in the heptathlon and at USC she was an All-American in the heptathlon.{{cite web|url=https://usctrojans.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=4162|title=Nia Ali Bio|website=University of Southern California Official Athletic Site|access-date=October 15, 2019|archive-date=November 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112082731/https://usctrojans.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=4162|url-status=live}}
=Professional=
File:Nia Ali Portland 2016.jpg
Ali was selected to represent the U.S. in Shenzhen, China for the World University Games where she won the Gold Medal in a time of 12.85.
At the 2013 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Ali took third in the 100 m hurdles to qualify for the 2013 World Championships in Athletics. At the World Championships, Ali was a semi-finalist in the 100 m hurdles, ultimately finishing 10th.{{cite news|url=https://usctrojans.com/news/2013/8/18/Brown_Wins_Bronze_At_IAAF_World_Track_amp_Field_Championships.aspx|title=Brown Wins Bronze at IAAF World Track & Field Championships|date=August 18, 2013|website=www.usctrojans.com|access-date=October 15, 2019|archive-date=October 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015220809/https://usctrojans.com/news/2013/8/18/Brown_Wins_Bronze_At_IAAF_World_Track_amp_Field_Championships.aspx|url-status=live}}
At the 2014 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Ali took eighth in the 100 m hurdles.{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.usatf.org/Events---Calendar/2014/USATF-Outdoor-Championships/Complete-Results.aspx|title=2014 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships – Track & Field Women's 100 meters hurdles|publisher=USA Track & Field|date=June 29, 2014|access-date=October 15, 2019|archive-date=August 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811174645/http://www.usatf.org/Events---Calendar/2014/USATF-Outdoor-Championships/Complete-Results.aspx|url-status=dead}}
She won the 60 meters hurdles at the 2013 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico in a personal best of 7.93 and repeated the year later with a new personal best of 7.80,[http://www.legacy.usatf.org/statistics/USA-Champions/USAIndoorTF/women/60mH.aspx USA Indoor Track & Field Champions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220075645/http://www.legacy.usatf.org/statistics/USA-Champions/USAIndoorTF/women/60mH.aspx |date=December 20, 2019 }} USA Track & Field. Retrieved October 15, 2019. which also qualified her for the 2014 World Indoor Championships where she took the gold medal running 7.80 a second time.
In 2015, Ali took a year off to give birth to her son with hurdler Michael Tinsley.{{cite web|url=https://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/highschool/pleasantville-grad-nia-ali-has-eyes-on-olympics-and-raising/article_91fa82c0-041c-11e6-bdb8-b39a33182225.html|title=Pleasantville grad Nia Ali has eyes on Olympics and raising newborn|work=The Press of Atlantic City|date=April 16, 2016|access-date=October 15, 2019|archive-date=October 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015220803/https://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/highschool/pleasantville-grad-nia-ali-has-eyes-on-olympics-and-raising/article_91fa82c0-041c-11e6-bdb8-b39a33182225.html|url-status=live}} She returned to the 2016 World Indoor Championships to successfully defend her gold medal. After winning, she carried her son on the victory lap.
Ali placed third in the 100 hurdles in a time of 12.55 at the 2016 United States Olympic Trials behind Team USA teammates Brianna Rollins, Kristi Castlin to qualify to represent the United States at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil.{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.usatf.org/Events---Calendar/2016/U-S--Olympic-Team-Trials---Track---Field/Athlete-Information.aspx|title=2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track & Field Men's steeplechase|publisher=usatf.org|date=July 8, 2016|access-date=October 15, 2019|archive-date=August 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160824054449/http://www.usatf.org/Events---Calendar/2016/U-S--Olympic-Team-Trials---Track---Field/Athlete-Information.aspx|url-status=dead}} Later that year she won the silver medal at the Olympics. The United States was the first country to win gold, silver, and bronze in the women's 100 hurdles in one Olympics in 2016; this was also the first time American women achieved such a sweep in any Olympic track and field event.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-37120618|title=Rio Olympics 2016: US women sweep medals in 100m hurdles|work=BBC News|date=August 18, 2016|access-date=October 15, 2019|archive-date=September 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916085544/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-37120618|url-status=live}}
In 2019, Ali won the gold medal in the 100m hurdles at the IAAF world championships in Doha, Qatar with a personal-best time of 12.34.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/oct/06/allyson-felix-wins-record-13th-world-athletics-championships-gold-in-Doha|agency=Associated Press|title=Championships Allyson Felix wins record 13th World Athletics Championships gold in Doha|date=October 6, 2019|work=The Guardian|access-date=October 15, 2019|archive-date=October 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007055640/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/oct/06/allyson-felix-wins-record-13th-world-athletics-championships-gold-in-doha|url-status=live}} The time ties her with Sharika Nelvis as the #9 performer of all time.
Competition record
=National championships results=
| class="wikitable sortable" style=text-align:center
|+ Representing the Pleasantville High School Greyhounds (2006), University of Tennessee Volunteers (2007), University of Southern California Trojans (2007-2011), and Nike (2011–2024) | ||||||
| Year | Championship | Position | Event | Time or mark | Wind (m/s) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006
|USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships |4th |100m hurdles |13.55 | +2.5 | |||||
| 2009
|USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships |DNF |Heptathlon |N/A | {{n/a}} | |||||
| 2011
|USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships |5th |100m hurdles |12.86 | +1.8 | |||||
| 2012
|8th |100m hurdles |13.02| | ||||||
| 1.6 | ||||||
| rowspan=2|2013
|USA Indoor Track and Field Championships |bgcolor=gold|1st |60m hurdles |7.93 | {{n/a}} | |||||
| USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
|bgcolor=cc9966|3rd |100m hurdles |12.48 | +1.2 | |||||
| rowspan=2|2014
|USA Indoor Track and Field Championships |bgcolor=gold|1st |60m hurdles |7.80 | {{n/a}} | |||||
| USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
|8th |100m hurdles |13.16| | ||||||
| 1.6 | ||||||
| rowspan=3|2016
|rowspan=2|USA Indoor Track and Field Championships |SF1 1st |60m hurdles |7.85 | {{n/a}}
|rowspan=2|Portland, Oregon | |||||
| 10th
|High jump |1.75 | {{n/a}} | |||||
| USA Olympic Trials
|bgcolor=cc9966|3rd |100m hurdles |12.55 | +1.2 | |||||
| 2017 | bgcolor=silver|2nd | 100m hurdles | 12.68 | −1.7 | Sacramento, California | |
| rowspan=1|2019 | bgcolor=silver|2nd | 100m hurdles | 12.55 | −1.2 | Des Moines, Iowa | |
| rowspan=1|2022 | USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships | DNS | 100m hurdles | N/A | {{n/a}} | Eugene, Oregon |
| 2023 | bgcolor=gold|1st | 100m hurdles | 12.37 | +0.4 | Eugene, Oregon | |
| 2024
|4th |100m hurdles |12.37 | +0.7 |
=International championship results=
| class="wikitable sortable" style=text-align:center
! Year !! Competition !! Venue !! Position !! Event !! Time !! Wind (m/s) !! Notes | |||||||
| 2013
|Moscow, Russia |3rd (sf) |12.83 | | |||||||
| 0.6
| | |||||||
| 2014
|Sopot, Poland |bgcolor=gold|1st |7.80 | | {{AthAbbr|PB}} | ||||||
| rowspan=2|2016
|Portland, USA |bgcolor=gold|1st |7.81 | |{{AthAbbr|PB}} | |||||||
| |Olympic Games | |Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | bgcolor=silver|2nd | 100 m hurdles | 12.59 | +0.0 | ||
| 2017 | |World Championships | |London, England | 8th | 100 m hurdles | 13.04 | +0.1 | |
| 2019 | |Doha, Qatar | bgcolor=gold|1st | 100 m hurdles | 12.34 | +0.3 | {{AthAbbr|PB}} | |
| 2022 | |World Championships | |Eugene, USA | 100 m hurdles | {{AthAbbr|DQ}} (h) | - | -0.3 | |
| 2023
|Budapest, Hungary |8th |12.78 | -0.2 | |
Personal life
Ali has a son, Titus Maximus, with American Olympian Michael Tinsley,[https://spikes.iaaf.org/post/nia-alis-extra-edge That Extra Edge] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408054809/https://spikes.iaaf.org/post/nia-alis-extra-edge |date=April 8, 2019 }} Spikes. Retrieved October 15, 2019.{{cite web |last1=Minutaglio |first1=Rose |title=Move Over, Boomer! There's a New Baby in Town: 100-Meter Hurdler Nia Ali's 15-Month-Old Son Titus Steals the Show |url=https://people.com/sports/nia-alis-15-month-old-son-titus-gives-mom-big-hug-after-historic-race/ |access-date=4 August 2021 |archive-date=August 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804204228/https://people.com/sports/nia-alis-15-month-old-son-titus-gives-mom-big-hug-after-historic-race/ |url-status=live }} an American track and field athlete specializing in the 400-metre hurdles.{{cite magazine|url=https://runningmagazine.ca/the-scene/andre-de-grasse-and-nia-alis-baby-girl-born-saturday/|title=Andre De Grasse and Nia Ali's baby girl born Saturday|magazine=Canadian Running Magazine|date=June 25, 2018|access-date=October 7, 2019|archive-date=October 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007031205/https://runningmagazine.ca/the-scene/andre-de-grasse-and-nia-alis-baby-girl-born-saturday/|url-status=live}} In June 2018, she had a daughter with her partner, Canadian Olympic sprinter Andre De Grasse, and a second child in May 2021.{{cite news |title=Andre De Grasse will miss World Relays with 2nd baby due next month |url=https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5977915 |publisher=CBC News |date=April 7, 2021 |access-date=August 4, 2021 |archive-date=August 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804151318/https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5977915 |url-status=live }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{World Athletics}}
- {{USATF|new_id=nia-ali}}
- {{USATF|id=Nia-Ali}}
- {{Olympics.com profile|nia-ali|org_archive=20210422020026}}
- {{Olympedia}}
- {{USOPC|new_id=nia-ali-810738|old_id=AL/Nia-Ali|archive=20230606081910}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 2016 Summer Olympics}}
{{USA Indoor Track and Field Championships winners in women's 60 m hurdles}}
{{Footer World Champions 100 m hurdles Women}}
{{Footer World Indoor Champions 60m Hurdles Women}}
{{Footer Universiade Champions 100m Hurdles Women}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 2016 Summer Olympics}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ali, Nia}}
Category:American female hurdlers
Category:Pleasantville High School (New Jersey) alumni
Category:Sportspeople from Atlantic County, New Jersey
Category:USC Trojans women's track and field athletes
Category:Tennessee Volunteers women's track and field athletes
Category:Track and field athletes from New Jersey
Category:Track and field athletes from Philadelphia
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2016 Summer Olympics
Category:People from Pleasantville, New Jersey
Category:Medalists at the 2016 Summer Olympics
Category:Olympic silver medalists for the United States in track and field
Category:Universiade medalists in athletics (track and field)
Category:African-American track and field athletes
Category:FISU World University Games gold medalists for the United States
Category:World Athletics Championships athletes for the United States
Category:World Athletics Championships medalists
Category:World Athletics Championships winners
Category:USA Indoor Track and Field Championships winners
Category:World Athletics Indoor Championships winners
Category:21st-century African-American sportswomen
Category:20th-century African-American sportswomen
Category:20th-century American sportswomen
Category:NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships winners