Miller pipped four-time Olympic gold medallist Felix to the finish by the slimmest of margins in an excruciatingly tight race, and a reversal of the result at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing.
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In a thrilling finish, Miller stumbled and then dived across the line as she edged out American world champion Allyson Felix to win in 49.44 seconds. As Felix closed in, the Barbadian leaned for and stretched her body over the line for an unconventional win, 49.44 seconds to 49.51.
“The only thing going through my mind was I have to get the gold medal”, Miller said.
Felix, who had battled back from injury to make the U.S. team for Rio, said her record haul of medals at the Olympics and world championships was little consolation for the loss. “I just really wanted it”. Miller tried something else. With a total of seven medals, Felix became the most decorated female track and field athlete in Olympics history, but one suspects that it may be a little while before she celebrates that accomplishment.
Her second-place finish makes her the most decorated US woman track and field athlete in history with seven medals. “I don’t know kind of what happened”, she said.
The two track and field stars were neck and neck at the end of the race until Miller, 22, left her feet and flew through the air with outstretched arms in the final yard of the race. “I don’t think I ever quite had a year this tough”, she added.
Bahamas sprinter Shaunae Miller may have finished first in the women’s 400m, securing her gold but it is the manner in which she did which has angered sports fans.
“Hopefully that’s an accomplishment I’ll be able to look back on and take it all in”, Felix said.
The winner’s first clue came from the stands, not the scoreboard, which showed Miller winning in 49.44 seconds, ahead of Felix and bronze medalist Shericka Jackson of Jamaica.
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Last night on the track at the Rio Olympics, the women’s 400-meter sprint ended with a true photo finish.
