Tokyo 2020 - 800m favourite Nijel Amos collides with Isaiah Jewett in semi-final to miss out on Olympic gold medal bid

ByHarry Latham Coyle

Updated 01/08/2021 at 12:24 GMT

Amos, silver medallist at London 2012 behind the brilliant David Rudisha, had qualified fastest through to the semi-finals, but tumbled to miss out on a bid for another Olympic medal. Jewett and the Botswana middle-distance runner jogged to the finish line together after picking themselves up off the track. You want it? We have it. Stream every Olympic event live on discovery+

Medal favourite Nijel Amos dramatically tumbled out of the semi-finals of the men's 800 metres at Tokyo 2020.

The London 2012 silver medallist collided with America's Isaiah Jewett with less than 200 metres left to run, leaving the pair sprawled on the inside of the track.

The Botswana middle-distance runner had been tipped to succeed the great David Rudisha as the victor over two laps of the Olympic track.

Tokyo 2020

'My son can't take medal to school now' - Kilty after Team GB 4x100m team stripped of Olympic silver

18/02/2022 at 21:49

In a mark of respect, the pair, out of contention for qualification, dusted themselves off to jog over the line together.

• Tokyo 2020 - Olympic Games Medal Table
• Tokyo 2020 - Watch and follow LIVE!
• Huge shock as medal favourite Bromell fails to make 100m final

Ferguson Rotich stayed clear of the collision and qualified fastest through to the final from the third semi-final in a time of 1:44.04.

Great Britain's Elliot GIles was also part of the last semi-final but narrowly missed out, pushed out by Amel Tuka of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Giles' time of 1:44.74 was too slow to secure him a spot as a fastest loser.

It was bitter disappointment for Amos and Jewett, though, having been unable to contest a tight finish.

Nigel Amos (left) and Isaiah Hewett hug one another after crashing out of the 800m semi-finals

Image credit: Eurosport

Their joining of arms and jog for the line showed remarkable sportsmanship after Amos had inadvertently caught the American's heels as they began to accelerate around the final bend.

- -

Watch every unmissable moment live from Tokyo 2020 across Eurosport, Eurosport app and discovery+. Download the Eurosport app for iOS and Android now.

Tokyo 2020

Team GB stripped of Tokyo 2020 4x100m relay silver medal after Ujah loses doping case

18/02/2022 at 15:55

Tokyo 2020

Athletics already has the new Bolt - it’s time to appreciate Thompson-Herah

24/12/2021 at 14:04

Tokyo 2020

Thompson-Herah and Warholm named World Athletes of the Year

02/12/2021 at 09:48