Controversial and legal: Shaunae Miller takes a dive to win gold over Allyson Felix
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Controversial and legal: Shaunae Miller takes a dive to win gold over Allyson Felix
Bahamian Shaunae Miller launched herself over the finishing line in a desperate dive to defeat American Allyson Felix and win Olympic 400 meters gold by the slimmest of margins in a thrilling finale on Monday. After catapulting across the line in a personal-best time of 49.44 seconds, the 22-year-old lay on the track, shaken up and exhausted, as she waited for the scoreboard to confirm that she had clinched her first major title. A tearful Felix extended her record as the most decorated U.S. track athlete of all time on Monday, but her 20th medal in major championships could not ease the pain of a shattering defeat.
Tonight the goal was to win. And it hurts right now. I'll just have to get through this moment and look back on that.
Allyson Felix
Miller retained the lead coming off the final bend but started tightening up as Felix surged about 50 meters from the line and the pair were neck and neck until the Bahamian's dive. And although Miller did something desperate and frowned upon, it's perfectly legal under the governing rules of track. Miller called it instinct. “It was just a reaction,” she said. “My mind just went blank.” Felix called it devastating. “In the moment, it’s just – it’s painful,” Felix said.