Shane Niemi
Shane Niemi (born June 2, 1978 in Kamloops, British Columbia is a retired Canadian sprints athlete. As a 17 year old he took the bronze medal in the 400 metres at the 1995 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships behind Obea Moore's still standing World Youth Best. The same three athletes (Jerome Young in silver position) finished in the same order at the 1996 World Junior Championships in Athletics. He returned to the 1997 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships to take the gold medal in the event. He was not able to make the qualifying standard for the 2000 Olympics.[1] He ran his personal record, the Canadian record, 44.86 at the 2001 Jeux de la Francophonie (French Games) on home soil in Ottawa to take gold. He didn't have the same magic at the home field 2001 World Championships in Athletics but the following year took silver in a tight battle at the 2002 Commonwealth Games beating the world champion Avard Moncur.[2][3] He won six straight Canadian championships between 1998 and 2003. Unable to make the qualifying mark to the 2004 Olympics, he retired in late 2004.[4]
Competition record
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| 1995 | Pan American Junior Championships | Santiago, Chile | 3rd | 400 m | 46.69 |
| 4th | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:13.85 | |||
| 1996 | World Junior Championships | Sydney, Australia | 3rd | 400 m | 45.94 |
| 10th (h) | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:12.03 | |||
| 1997 | Pan American Junior Championships | Havana, Cuba | 1st | 400 m | 45.83 |
| 4th | 4 × 100 m relay | 40.85 | |||
| 4th | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:12.27 | |||
| 1998 | Commonwealth Games | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | (qf) | 400 m | 46.17 |
| 8th | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:04.84 | |||
| 1999 | Pan American Games | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | 10th (h) | 400 m | 45.81 |
| 5th | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:03.06 | |||
| World Championships | Seville, Spain | 30th (qf) | 400 m | 46.57 | |
| 16th (h) | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:05.60 | |||
| 2001 | World Indoor Championships | Lisbon, Portugal | 20th (h) | 400 m | 47.80 |
| Jeux de la Francophonie | Ottawa-Hull, Canada | 1st | 400 m | 44.86 | |
| World Championships | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | 15th (sf) | 400 m | 45.91 | |
| 20th (h) | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:04.87 | |||
| 2002 | Commonwealth Games | Manchester, United Kingdom | 2nd | 400 m | 45.09 |
| 2003 | Pan American Games | Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | 5th | 400 m | 45.78 |
| World Championships | Paris, France | 17th (sf) | 400 m | 45.60 | |
| 9th (h) | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:02.97 | |||
He holds the current BC high school track and field 400m record of 46.8 in 1996 while he was attending Westsyde Secondary School in Kamloops.[5]
Personal bests
- 200 metres - 20.61 s, Edmonton 2001
- 400 metres - 44.86 s, Ottawa 2001
References
- http://www.upi.com/News_Photos/view/upi/aa9f5a55d6e06f893b78351bb27921c1/Canadas-Shane-Niemi-wins-400m-at-Harry-Jerome-Track-Meet/
- http://www.gettyimages.com/pictures/canadian-silver-medalist-shane-niemi-runs-next-to-bronze-news-photo-51530420
- http://www.sporting-heroes.net/athletics/canada/shane-niemi-1439/400m-silver-medal-at-2002-commonwealth-games_a09293/
- http://www.runnersweb.com/running/rw_news_frameset.html?http://www.runnersweb.com/running/news/rw_news_20041218_AC_Niemi.html
- http://www.pressreader.com/canada/the-province/20150521/282050505652981
