Francine Niyonsaba
- Born
- May 5, 1993 (33 years old)
- Events
- 3000 m · 800 m
- Height
- 1.61 m
- Weight
- 56 kg
Francine Niyonsaba (born May 5, 1993) is a Burundian runner who specialized in the 800 metres and shifted to longer distances in 2019. She was the 2016 Rio Olympics silver medalist in the women's 800 metres.
Her silver medal was the first Olympic medal for Burundi since 1996. Niyonsaba won a silver in the event at the 2017 World Championships. She is a two-time 800 m world indoor champion, having won 800 m in 2016 and 2018. After her move to longer distances, Niyonsaba finished fifth over the 10,000 metres at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. With a time of 5:21.56, Niyonsaba holds the African record in the 2000 metres, set in 2021, along with seven Burundian records.
Her 2000 metres time was previously the world record until it was broken by Jessica Hull in 2024, who ran 5:19.70. In 2019, World Athletics announced that Niyonsaba would not be allowed to compete under the female classification in events between 400 metres and one mile due to its regulations on XY DSD athletes with naturally high testosterone levels.
As of Oct 30, 2026: 3000 m 8:19.08 (#9 all-time), 800 m 1:55.47 (#19 all-time), 2023 season best 15:08.60 (Jun 10, 2023) · Last competition: EDP Meia Maratona de Lisboa, Mar 12, 2023, 1:08:45 · Olympic Games: 1 silver · World Championships: 1 silver · Area record (2000 Metres) · 33 years old
Personal bests
WA points calculator →Medals
| Competitions | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympic Games | – | 1 | – | 1 |
| World Championships | – | 1 | – | 1 |
| Total | – | 2 | – | 2 |
Progression
| Season | Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 5000m | 15:08.60 | – | Jun 10, 2023 | – |
| 2023 | CrossCount | 26:30 | – | Jan 8, 2023 | 79th Elgoibar Juan Muguerza Cross-Country, Elgoibar - XC 10.796km |
| 2023 | Semi | 1:08:45 | – | Mar 12, 2023 | EDP Meia Maratona de Lisboa |
| 2022 | 3000m | 8:24.27 | – | May 27, 2022 | Prefontaine Classic, Hayward Field, Eugene, OR - Diamond Discipline |
| 2022 | 2Miles | 8:59.08 | – | May 27, 2022 | Prefontaine Classic, Hayward Field, Eugene, OR - Diamond Discipline |
| 2022 | CrossCount | 30:44 | – | Dec 18, 2022 | Cross Internacional de Venta de Baños, Venta de Baños - XC 10.575km |
| 2022 | 10Kilometr | 30:58 | – | Dec 31, 2022 | Nationale Nederlanden San Silvestre Vallecana |
| 2021 | 2000m | 5:21.56 | – | Sep 14, 2021 | Memorial Borisa Hanžekovića, Sports Park Mladost, Zagreb |