Nia Akins, the U.S. national champion for outdoor track and field in 2023, specializes in the 800 meters. She hails from San Diego, California, and was born on July 7, 1998. Most recently, Akins won a gold medal at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, confirming her participation at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Akins clocked 2:00.71 in 800 meters during her time at the University of Pennsylvania, which was the second-highest in NCAA history. Her first national championship was at the 2019 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, where she finished seventh. And at the same time, she won a silver medal at the NACAC U23 Championships.
In 2023, she participated at the 2023 World Athletics Championships and finished in sixth place, clocking her personal best at 1:57.73, which was broken at the 2024 U.S. Olympic trials when she clocked 1:57.36.
Nia Akins’ Speed
Nia Akins's personal best in 800 meters was 1:57.36, achieved in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trails in June. Also, the shortest distance she ever ran was 400 meters in 2018, clocking 54.54 seconds, which was her personal best. She won gold at the event.
U.S. Olympic Team Trials track & field ace Athing Mu, the defending 800m champion, fell in the first 200 meters of the race, shockingly ending her chances of defending her gold medal at the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024.
Not long after the incident, Nia Akins claimed the lead and finished in 1:57.36, a personal best. However, this reminded spectators of the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials, when Akins was the one who fell on the track and finished ninth, while Mu won.
Nia Akins’ Personal Bests
| Discipline | Performance | Date |
| 400 Metres | 54.54 | 23 Jun 2018 |
| 400 Metres Short Track | 54.9 | 19 Jan 2020 |
| 500 Metres | 1:12.75 | 26 Feb 2017 |
| 500 Metres Short Track | 1:12.75 | 26 Feb 2017 |
| 600 Metres | 1:24.32 | 09 Feb 2024 |
| 600 Metres Short Track | 1:24.32 | 09 Feb 2024 |
| 800 Metres | 1:57.36 | 24 Jun 2024 |
| 800 Metres Short Track | 2:00.16 | 18 Feb 2023 |
| 1000 Metres | 2:43.92 | 24 Feb 2019 |
| 1000 Metres Short Track | 2:43.92 | 24 Feb 2019 |
| 1500 Metres | 4:10.32 | 27 Apr 2024 |
| 1500 Metres Short Track | 4:24.76 | 27 Jan 2023 |
| Mile | 4:32.08 | 13 Jan 2024 |
| Mile Short Track | 4:46.05 | 01 Mar 2020 |
| 4x100 Metres Relay | 47.82 | 31 May 2014 |
| 4x400 Metres Relay | 3:32.12 | 25 May 2019 |
| 4x400 Metres Relay Short Track | 3:49.71 | 11 Jan 2019 |
| 4x800 Metres Relay | 8:33.39 | 27 Apr 2017 |
| 4x800 Metres Relay Short Track | 8:45.54 | 26 Feb 2017 |
| Distance Medley | 10:59.44 | 25 Apr 2019 |
| Distance Medley Short Track | 11:25.51 | 25 Jan 2019 |
Nia Akins’ Age
Nia Akins is 26 years old. She was born on July 7, 1998.
FAQ's on How Fast is Nia Akins
A. Nia Akins' personal best at 800 meters is 1:57:36 at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
A. Nia Akins is 26 years old; she was born on July 7, 1998.
A. Yes, Nia Akins graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a nursing degree.
A. Nia Akins is from San Diego, California, in the United States.
