Felix had run the fastest qualifying time for this final, and had not lost either of her preliminary races.
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“I just tried to give all I had”, Felix said. “My mind just went blank”. But the way she did it was controversial: She stumbled, then dove over the finish line. All I was thinking about was the gold medal and the next thing I was on the ground. Those were reserved for pole vaulter Thiago Braz da Silva, who gave Brazil its first medal in track and field by setting an Olympic record (6.03 meters) to upset world-record holder and defending champion Renaud Lavillenie of France. According to Reuters, the two were “neck and neck until the Bahamian’s gold medal-winning dive”. Second behind Felix in the 400 metres at the world championships in Beijing a year ago when her strong finish was not enough to rein in the American, Miller had clearly learned her lesson. Track coaches rarely teach the move, but they don’t prohibit it either.
The women’s 400-meter race was one of several events that were briefly postponed Monday evening, after a heavy rainstorm drenched Rio. Nor has Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson, who claimed bronze.
The result popped up on the scoreboard – Miller won in 49.44 seconds. It is the first for the Lady Bulldogs since Hyleas Fountain won the silver medal in the heptathlon in 2008.
Felix came in second and now becomes the most decorated female athlete in track and field history after securing her seventh medal.
The night began with a downpour that stopped action in all the events and put the DJ to work, playing “Singing In The Rain”, “Umbrella”, and “I Can’t Stand the Rain”, among other fare, while the fans waited out the delay. She exploded out of the blocks in lane seven on Monday and went for broke, her long stride giving her a good lead on the back straight as the shorter Felix powered away inside her.
Miller said: “It was a fantastic race and that was an wonderful effort from a world-class athlete”.
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Those who stayed got their money’s worth.
