Miller’s desperate dive in the final steps of the 400 meters on Monday night beat Allyson Felix by a dramatic seven one hundredths of a second, 49.44 to 49.51. Miller finished with a time of 49.44 seconds, and just edged out Felix, 30, who completed the race in 49.51 seconds.
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Shaunae Miller has become an internet sensation after the sprinter from the Bahama’s won gold in the women’s 400m – and the overall gold for sheer desperation to win at the Rio Olympics.
However, Channel 7 commentator Bruce McAvaney declared he did not like the idea that Miller may have benefited from her final lunge.
“I was thinking, “Oh my gosh, I am lying on the ground right now”, she said, speaking to reporters. She’s run her heart out.
Miller won the Bahamas their first medal in the Rio Olympics.
“For Felix it was the biggest dip in the world”.
“I know it’s an accomplishment when I’m looking back but tonight the goal was to win and I fell short of that”, she explained.
“Anyway it has and it’s for no fault of either runner”.
Her coach Lance Brauman added: “She gave everything she had and her legs gave out at the line”.
Miller led most of the race but it appeared Felix was set to pass her on the home stretch.
She was one of those rare athletes who had the cachet to get the Olympics to change the schedule. Then again, fantastic things happen with a gold medal on the line.
“Shaunae Miller’s dive was to recover from falling”.
Francis never got into position to make her potent finish a factor.
“I tried to give it all I have, but I didn’t have any more to give in the last 10 meters”, she said.
“I just gave it my all. It is always hard after a 400 and I was physically and emotionally drained”, admitted the American. I’ve been going through so much this year.
In that race, Team USA claimed all three medals, LaShawn Merritt won gold and Jeremy Wariner took silver.
Taoufik Makhloufi, the Algerian who won Olympic gold four years ago in London, was second in 1:42.61. Then, Miller showed up and handed Felix her third Olympic disappointment. She could still run both the 4x100m and the 4x400m relays in Rio.
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Felix, in earning the silver medal, still made history by becoming the most decorated women’s track and field athlete in United States history, passing Jackie Joyner-Kersee to earn a seventh medal.
