As a hurdler and heptathlete, Nia Ali of the USA keeps defying expectations throughout her career. Nia Ali, the silver medalist for the Olympic 100-meter hurdles, is a talented athlete in the outdoors, but she is most known for her two world indoor 60-meter hurdles crowns in 2014 and 2016, as well as the fact that she gave birth to her son, Titus, between the two world championships.

Nia Ali’s mother’s unwavering belief in her potential played a pivotal role in her journey. Be it winning the gold medal in the 100m hurdles at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha with a personal best of 12.34 seconds, or silver medals in the 60m hurdles at the World Indoor Championships in 2014 and 2016. And if that wasn’t enough, Nia Ali also won a silver medal in the 100m hurdles at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Before going to the Paris Olympics, Nia Ali said, “I want people to understand you can balance track and motherhood.” Being a mother is a new phase for a woman, but every person needs their parents as their support system, regardless of how old they get. Let’s meet, Nia Ali’s parents.

Who is Nia Ali’s father?

Aleem Ali is the father of American track and field athlete Nia Ali. When Nia was running for the University of Southern California in 2009 in West Oak Lane, she became distracted after losing her father in a murder-suicide. The tragic incident, where Ali’s father fatally shot his mistress in front of her 11-year-old daughter before taking his own life, left Nia Ali so devastated that she chose not to compete in 2010.

Nia Ali’s mother shared with NBC Philadelphia how Nia coped with her father’s demise, and she said, “Her being away at college, I didn’t know what her struggle was, and she would talk, but I couldn’t tell where she was with that entire situation. She is very spiritual, and finding God and talking to doctors while she was at school helped her finally work through it.”

Melita further added, “No one will understand why that happened, but we have to keep living and moving forward. We go through those times where I’m sure she wishes he were here, and she will say this is for her dad, or my dad. When we lost my dad — and he was an avid track runner — it was hard. So we are a track family and she runs for them.” Nia couldn’t spend much time with her father, but her mother always supported and believed her.

Who is Nia Ali’s mother?

Nia Ali’s mother’s name is Melita Johnson. It seems that it was all destined to be what Nia has done till now, and as a proud mother. Melit always knew that her daughter could do it– she knew that her daughter would be an Olympian. When Melita was asked by NBC Philadelphia about Nia Ali’s motivation, she said, “It’s passion for whatever she does. Nia dances too, and I used to be a dance teacher. She used to get up out of her seat and just dance. So, whatever she does, she goes 100 percent.”

While talking about watching her in the Olympics, Melita Johnson recalled, “Being out there in trials was initially scary. I had a lot of anxiety because I know how much she wanted this, and I know how hard she worked. From the time she was six years old she would do whatever Coach Daryl Murphy told her to do. She puts trust in her coaches, so I wanted her to make the team for herself because she works so hard. So when I saw her name on the Olympic trials, I just broke down. It was an amazing feeling.”

For any parent, it would be a proud feeling when other parents come up to them and say that their daughter is the inspiration for their children. As Melita puts it, “Other parents came up to me after the trials, thanking me because they thought my daughter was such an inspiration. Then Nia actually took the time out to talk to that woman’s daughter. That’s just who she is. She’s always been the type to hang out with anyone, or if someone needs help, she will take the time out to be there.”

What is Nia Ali’s parents’ nationality?

Nia Ali, born on October 23, 1988, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is proudly American. Her roots run deep in the States—both of her parents, Melita Johnson and the late Aleem Ali, are American nationals as well.