Bahamian women’s 400 metres superstar Shaunae Miller-Uibo produced a spectacular performance by setting a national record on her way to claiming gold in the women’s 400 metres final at Tokyo 2020.
Miller-Uibo, who was eighth in the 200 metres final in 24 seconds flat, looked smooth through the heats and semi-final rounds, running 50.50 and 49.60, respectively. She returned with an impressive 48.36 seconds, also a new NACAC Area record, to take the final.
She became just the second woman in Olympic history to win back-to-back titles at 400m, after Marie-Jose Perec, the 1992 and 1996 champion.
Miller-Uibo’s victory also completed a Bahamian one-lap double after Steven Gardiner won the men’s 400m.
“I am so happy right now I could cry,” the 27-year-old Miller-Uibo said. “I’ve been dealing with a whole lot of injuries and to be able to pull this one off is amazing. To be able to pull off matching gold medals, and to get an area record as well, I am so thankful.”
The Jamaican pair of Stephanie-Ann McPherson and Candice McLeod were fourth and fifth, respectively, with times of 49.61 seconds and 49.87 seconds.
McPherson, who looked poised to get a medal heading into the finals with a brilliant 49.34 seconds in the semi-finals, faded over the last 150 metres after a fast first 250 metres.
Second place went to the Dominican Republic’s Marileidy Paulino in a national record of 49.20 seconds. Nine-time Olympic medallist Allyson Felix added to her collection by copping the bronze medal in a season’s best 49.46 seconds.
Sixth place went to British athlete Jodie Williams who produced a personal best of 49.97 seconds. USA’s Quanera Hayes was seventh in 50.88 seconds while Roxana Gomez of Cuba did not finish.
Congratulations 👏