Harry Aikines-Aryeetey facts for kids
Aikines-Aryeetey at the Sainsbury's Anniversary Games in 2013
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| Nickname(s) | Harry A-A Nitro |
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| Born | 29 August 1988 Carshalton, Sutton, England |
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| Height | 1.81 metres (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 85 kilograms (187 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Sport | Athletics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | Sprinting | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Sutton and District Athletics Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) | 100 m: 10.00 200 m: 20.46 |
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Medal record
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Harry Leslie Aikines-Aryeetey (born August 29, 1988) is a famous English athlete and TV star. He was a top sprinter who competed for England in the Commonwealth Games. Many people know him as "Nitro" from the exciting BBC sports show Gladiators. He has also appeared on BBC Radio 5's Fighting Talk.
In 2005, Harry was named the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year. He also won the IAAF's Rising Star award. This was after he made history by winning gold medals in both the 100 metres and 200 metres at the World Youth Championships.
Harry represented Great Britain at the Rio Olympics. He won his first individual medal, a bronze, in the 100 metres at the 2014 European Athletics Championships. At the same event, he helped the Great Britain team win gold in the 4 × 100 metres relay. He later won two more European relay golds and two Commonwealth Games relay golds for England.
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Harry's Early Life and First Wins
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey was born on August 29, 1988, in Carshalton, London. His parents are from Ghana. He went to Greenshaw High School in Sutton, London from 2000 to 2006.
Winning Medals as a Young Athlete
Harry won his first big tournament medal at the 2004 Commonwealth Youth Games. He earned a silver medal in the 100 metres race.
On June 11, 2006, when he was just 17, Harry competed in a 100 metres race in Gateshead. In that race, Asafa Powell tied the world record of 9.77 seconds. Later that year, on August 16, 2006, Harry won the gold medal in the 100 metres at the 2006 World Junior Championships in Athletics in Beijing, China. He ran his best time of the season, 10.37 seconds.
Overcoming Challenges and Returning Strong
In 2007, Harry was advised not to run because of small fractures in his spine. After almost a year of rest, he came back in 2008. He ran a personal best of 6.59 seconds in the 60 metres in France, showing he was back in great shape.
Harry was chosen for Team GB at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics. He was part of the men's 4 × 100 metres relay team. With his teammates, he won a bronze medal in Berlin.
Becoming a Champion Sprinter
During the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships, Harry had to stop his race due to an injury. He returned in August but was not fully fit. It took him months to get back to his best for the 2011 season.
Achieving Personal Bests
In 2011, Harry started to regain his form. He finished second in the UK indoor championships. He also ran a personal best in the 200 metres, finishing in 20.46 seconds in Switzerland. He then won the UK championships in Birmingham and qualified for the World Championships with a time of 10.14 seconds.
Harry won his first individual senior medal at the 2014 European Athletics Championships in Zurich. He finished third in the 100 metres race. In 2018, he was part of the relay team that won gold at both the Commonwealth Games and the European Championships. This was his second European gold medal.
In 2020, Harry became the British champion in the 100 metres. He won the event at the 2020 British Athletics Championships. He got injured in 2021 and missed the Tokyo Olympics. However, he returned to the track in 2022. He was chosen for the 4 × 100 metres relay squad for the 2022 World Athletics Championships, the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and the 2022 European Athletics Championships. Harry often trains at Loughborough University.
Harry's Best Running Times
Here are Harry's fastest times in different races:
| Event | Best Time | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 metres | 6.55 seconds | Birmingham, United Kingdom | February 13, 2010 |
| 100 metres | 10.08 seconds | Birmingham, United Kingdom | July 13, 2013 |
| 200 metres | 20.46 seconds | La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland | July 3, 2011 |
From Track to Television Star
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey has also become a well-known face on television.
Appearing on Reality Shows
In March 2021, Harry was on the MTV show Celebs on the Farm. He finished as the runner-up in that competition.
Becoming "Nitro" the Gladiator
In May 2023, it was announced that Harry would be "Nitro" in the new Gladiators TV series on BBC One. Nitro quickly became a fan favorite. People love his "explosive energy" and his amazing 41 in (1.0 m) vertical jump. As Nitro, he is also the "host" of a spin-off show called Gladiators: Epic Pranks, which is set to air in 2025 on the CBBC channel.
Harry also appeared as a contestant on Celebrity MasterChef in September 2024. In December 2024, he participated in the Christmas special of Strictly Come Dancing with professional dancer Nancy Xu.
See also
In Spanish: Harry Aikines-Aryeetey para niños
