Khamica Bingham (centre) takes off at the start of the women's 100m Pan Am Games heats in Toronto

Khamica Bingham

Biography

Khamica Bingham made her Olympic debut at Rio 2016 where she anchored the 4x100m relay team to a sixth-place finish, in what was Canada’s first Olympic final in the event since Los Angeles 1984. She missed advancing to the 100m semifinals by just one place. 

Bingham had enjoyed a stellar 2015 season. She anchored the 4x100m relay that broke the national record at the 2015 IAAF World Relays, running 42.85 seconds to finish fourth and qualify Canada for Rio 2016. After becoming the national 100m champion, she went on to anchor the 4x100m relay to bronze at the Pan Am Games in Toronto where she also finished sixth in the 100m, posting a personal best time of 11.13 seconds. She was also the anchor on the 4x100m relay that repeated their sixth-place finish at the IAAF World Championships with a national record 42.60 seconds.

Bingham was the only Canadian, male or female, to qualify for a 100m final at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, coming back from a debilitating stomach virus at the height of her season.

In 2017, Bingham tore her Achilles in her left leg and missed almost the entire season. She returned in 2018 only to tear the Achilles in her right leg in June. She made her second comeback in 2019 and won both the 100m and 200m titles at the Harry Jerome Track Classic in Burnaby. Bingham was back with the 4x100m relay team for the World Relays and Lima Pan Am Games, winning silver at the latter.

In 2021, Bingham finished second in the 100m at the Canadian Olympic Trials in Montreal to book her ticket to Tokyo 2020. In her second Olympic appearance, Bingham was a semifinalist in the 100m.

Bingham ran collegiately for the University of Toronto. She won three consecutive gold medals at the CIS Championships in the indoor 60m and 4x200m relay between from 2013 to 2015. She added a 300m indoor title in 2014. The indoor 4x200m title in 2013 set a Canadian record with a time of 1:36.53.

Bingham just missed the podium in the 100m by 0.01 seconds at the 2012 World Junior Championships, finishing fourth one year after placing fifth at the World Youth Championships. In 2013 she represented Canada at the Universiade, finishing fourth in the 100m semis.

A Little More About Khamica

Getting into the Sport: Began running track at age 15… Had been a national level gymnast but when her parents couldn’t financially keep her in that sport, she joined a former teammate who had also turned to track… Olympic dream began after winning OFSAA (Ontario high school) gold in 100m and 200m in her first year running track in 2010… Outside Interests: Enjoys taking pictures, motivational speaking, coaching, being outdoors… Graduated from York University in 2020 with a degree in Humanities… Launched Meet My Melanin, a community-based platform that educates on racism in sports, sports equity, and equality while advocating for black athletes to feel seen, heard, and known… Odds and Ends: Favourite motto: “Whenever you struggle to persevere, remember your purpose and if it’s good enough, you’ll find the strength to push forward.”… Says a quick prayer before every race… Collects pins from different countries, likes trading with athletes from other countries… Inspired by American gymnast Katelyn Ohashi because of her resiliency… Nicknames: Meeks, Mica, Bings…

Olympic Highlights

Games Sport Event Finish
2016 RioAthletics100m - Women25
2016 RioAthletics4x100m Relay - Women6
Tokyo 2020Athletics100m18

Notable International Results

Olympic Games: 2020 - 18th (100m); 2016 - 25th (100m), 6th (4x100m relay)

Pan American Games: 2019 - SILVER (4x100m relay); 2015 - 6th (100m), BRONZE (4x100m relay)

Commonwealth Games: 2014 - 7th (100m), 4th (4x100m relay)

World Athletics Championships: 2015 - 26th (100m), 17th (200m), 6th (4x100m relay); 2013 - 6th (4x100m relay)

World Athletics Relays: 2019 - DQ (4x100m relay), 2015 - 4th (4x100m relay); 2014 - 9th (4x100m relay)

World Athletics Championships (junior): 2012 - 4th (100m)

World Athletics Championships (youth): 2011- 5th (100m), 3rd in SF (200m)

Pan American Championships (junior): 2013 - 6th (100m), SILVER (4x100m relay)

FISU Universiade: 2013 - 4th in SF (100m)