Nia Akins is set to make her Olympic debut at the Paris 2024 Games, showcasing her talents as a Team USA 800m runner. However, her journey to the Olympics is uniquely intertwined with her passion for music. While she excels on the track, it’s the stage where she finds herself most nervous.
Akins leads a double life: an athlete by day and a singer-songwriter by night. “Performing live is the most terrifying,” the 26-year-old shared with The Athletic. “I’ve been running track for like 10 years now. So it’s like, ‘Why am I so scared of the sport? Why am I so scared of, you know, competing?’”
How Music Helps Nia Akins On and Off the Track
Akins’ Olympic journey comes just months after her musical debut, where she performed solo for the first time in 2023. Despite being ranked number five in the world for the 800m, she admits to struggling with confidence. Nonetheless, she has found her stride at the perfect time for Paris 2024.
At the US trials in Oregon earlier this year, Akins set a personal best of 1:57.36, earning gold. With the reigning Olympic champion Athing Mu not qualifying for Paris, Team USA’s prospects in the 800m have been questioned. Yet, Akins is determined to leave her mark.
Team GB’s Keely Hodgkinson, who recently set a world-leading time of 1:54.61, is favored for the 800m. Akins faced Hodgkinson in May 2024, finishing fourth, just over two seconds behind the Tokyo 2020 silver medalist.
After a challenging 2022, Akins’ training with coach Danny Mackey paid off in 2023. She won the 800m at both the USA indoor championships and the U.S. track & field championships at Hayward Field.
A New, More Confident Akins Representing Team USA at Paris 2024
Akins’ journey hasn’t been easy. During tough times, she turns to music for solace, often spending time in the studio with her guitar, writing lyrics. Her most recent single, “Petals to the Fire,” was released just three weeks before the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony.
Music has not only helped Akins cope with life’s challenges but also boosted her confidence on the track. “I want to medal next year in Paris,” she told her coach in 2023, marking a significant shift in her self-belief.
“I definitely gained some confidence from just the way last year played out for me,” Akins explained, “I feel like something that people kind of forget is you have to practice both being humble and being confident. There’s a balance to it, for sure.”
Akins’ journey to Paris 2024 reminds us that Olympians are human, susceptible to nervousness, setbacks, and self-doubt. Her story is a testament to perseverance and the pursuit of big dreams. As she steps onto the Olympic stage, Akins embodies the spirit of balancing ambition with humility, proving that with dedication, anything is possible.
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