RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – Since Shaunae Miller’s incredible victory in the Rio 2016 Olympics women’s 400m, several negatives have flooded social media (Video below).

Miller, who practically came to a standstill with less than 10 metres to the finish line, stretched and fell across the line in 49.44, a personal best to take a legitimate gold, according to finish rules.

But several fans of the sport, have since taken to social media to criticize the athlete’s victory, describing the “dive” as unfair.

Dee Dee Trotter, the American 400m bronze medallist from the London 2012 Olympics, has blasted Miller’s critics.

“I am so disappointed with the negativity that surrounds the women’s 400m results, and Shaunae Miller’s awesome win to the finish line,” said Trotter, who helped USA to 4x400m gold medals in London 2012 and Athens 2004.

“Let me tell you something, I’m team USA baby, I am Allyson Felix, Natasha Hastings, Phyllis Francis all day,“ the two-time World Championships (2003 and 2007) 4x400m relay gold medalist said in her support for the ladies who represented Team USA in the 400m.

The 33-year-old, in her video post, explained what happened to Miller at the finish line.

Trotter said that there is a lot of pain associated with the 400m.

“The last 10 metres, Shaunae Miller has no legs, if you go back and watch this race, slow, more than last 10 meters, you will see she start to collapse and buckle. She has literally ran all the gas out of her body, she gave it everything she has, and she leaned across the finish line, which resulted in a fall, because she has nothing in her legs left,” Trotter said.

American champion, Allyson Felix, who closed considerably in the last 50 metres, took silver in a season best 49.51 while Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson, who Trotter also praised, pocketed the bronze in 49.85.

“I am here to tell you that’s what happened, I was in the stadium, I ran the 400m for 13 years, (so) I am trying to tell you she won this race legitimately, there is no rules against it, we teach leaning, leaning is a taught thing,” she added.

She said the aim is to lean to “get across the finish line first, no hate, no shame, the girl won it.”

“Team USA came away with the silver, that may not be how some of you want to feel, but the fact of the matter, Shaunae got the gold; show her some love and to stop hating on the girl,” she said.

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Anthony Foster is a renowned Jamaican sports journalist, honored twice as the Jamaica sports journalist of the year (in 2004 and 2005). His journalistic achievements are globally recognized. Notably, he authored an award-winning article on Usain Bolt, the iconic 6-time Olympic champion, 11-time World champion, and record holder for the sprint double. This significant piece was published in the Jamaica Gleaner in 2004. Anthony's extensive coverage includes prestigious events such as the Olympic Games in Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Rio 2016. He has also provided coverage for seven (7) World Athletics Championships held between 2007 and 2022, alongside various other international sporting events. Noteworthy mentions comprise his coverage of the 2007 World Cup of cricket and his cherished experience reporting on the 2004 clash between his favorite football team, Argentina, and the USA.

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