After earning two world indoor silver medals and two bronze outdoors, Ajeé Wilson finally claimed gold in the women’s 800 meters. With a dominant kick heading into the last lap, the American glided past the competition, winning at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Belgrade, Serbia on Sunday, March 20.
Wilson finished in 1:59.09, a season’s best and 1.45 seconds clear of Freweyni Hailu of Ethiopia, who kicked for silver in 2:00.54. Halimah Nakaayi of Uganda earned bronze in 2:00.66.
“You never take any of these races for granted,” Wilson said. “Coming to the line I was elated, excited… to finally get gold, it means a bunch. I’m excited to go home, have my family, my friends, my teammates, my coach, wear that medal around their necks because it’s just as much theirs as it is mine.”
From the gun, Wilson, 27, positioned herself within striking distance for a big move in the later stages of the race. When Natoya Goule of Jamaica led the field through the first 200 meters in 28.24 and 400 meters in 59.28, Wilson tucked in behind the top group, which also included Nakaayi and Habitam Alemu of Ethiopia.
With about 250 meters remaining, Wilson weaved around the competition and surged ahead early into the bell lap. On the backstretch, Nakaayi and Goule attempted to chase her down, but the two-time Olympian was already out of reach.
With her arms outstretched, Wilson celebrated her long-sought global championship while crossing the finish line. “For the first time ever, I didn’t look up [at the screen],” Wilson said. “I was just like, go through the line, power through, you know everybody’s coming. I’m glad we’re on the right track.”
The world indoor title is the latest victory for the 12-time national champion, who is riding a six-race winning streak so far this season. Her gold medal is an upgrade from silver at the 2016 and 2018 World Athletics Indoor Championships. She earned bronze outdoors at the 2017 and 2019 World Athletics Championships.
Last summer, Wilson told APP she navigated an “unusual buildup” to the Tokyo Games. She was in great shape prior to the pandemic, and the postponement saw the rise of then-Texas A&M freshman Athing Mu. After shattering 400- and 800-meter NCAA records, Mu turned pro. She destroyed the field at the U.S. Olympic Trials and went on to New York City Marathon. In her second appearance at the Olympics, Wilson didn’t make it beyond the semifinal in Tokyo.
In the absence of Mu and seven months after navigating disappointment at the Olympic Games, Wilson regained her footing on the world stage.
“Everything that could go wrong did go wrong last year, and it was a bad but good starting point,” Wilson said. “Being able to accomplish what I did proved to myself how much I love the sport and how much more I have left to give.”
Taylor Dutch is a writer and editor living in Austin, Texas, and a former NCAA track athlete who specializes in fitness, wellness, and endurance sports coverage. Her work has appeared in Runner’s World, SELF, Bicycling, Outside, and Podium Runner.
