Team USA’s Allyson Felix and the Bahamanian sprinter Shaunae Miller were neck-and-neck, charging towards the finish line.
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No, that’s no error.
She said that when she hit the ground, she had no idea she actually won the gold.
Miller, a 22-year-old from the Bahamas, took an early lead, then held off Felix’s charge along the straightaway. Shericka Jackson of Jamaica won the bronze in 49.85 seconds.
Miller, a University of Georgia graduate, didn’t know what really happened.
When the gunshot went off, Miller flew like a rocket and managed to get a good head start against Felix thanks to her long strides. Last night in the 400-meter final, Bahamanian runner Shaunae Miller won the gold medal in dramatic fashion.
Miller, bottom, dives to cross the finish line.
Felix has raced in ever summer Olympics since the Athens Games in 2004, earning four gold and two silver medals along the way.
And her bid for a first Olympic 400m crown, after gold in the 200m, 4x100m and twice in the 4x400m also fell short.
Former track and field star Lolo Jones took to Twitter to quiet down the people outraged at Miller’s gold medal dive. “I didn’t have more to give”.
“I’ve got a few cuts and bruises but I’m OK”. Felix, classically trained by Bobby Kersee – the husband and fomer coach of another American track and field legend, Jackie-Joyner Kersee – made a textbook lean into the finish line.
The Bahamian runner lunged for the line in an apparent desperate bid to claim top spot on the podium on Monday, pipping Allyson Felix of the United States by 0.07 seconds. In what will become Olympic legend, Miller dove across the finish line to snatch the gold from the grasp of Felix. After winning the world championship at 400 meters past year, she put the 200-400 double in her sights for the Olympics.
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An emotional Miller relishes her win.
