Allyson Felix loses out on women's 400 gold in wild photo finish
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RIO DE JANEIRO — Allyson Felix, the sprinting wunderkind who blossomed into a four-time Olympian, became the United States’ most decorated female track athlete Monday night after winning her seventh Olympic medal, a silver in the 400-meter dash.
But, if it were not for Shanaue Miller’s dive at the finish line, it very well could have been a gold for Felix.
The Bahamian had to resort to desperate measures to hold off a hard-charging Felix to cross the line ahead of Felix. Miller won in a time of 49.44 seconds, a personal best and just 0.07 ahead of Felix (49.51).
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Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson (49.85) took bronze. Americans Natasha Hastings and Phyllis Francis finished fourth and sixth, respectively.
The 30-year-old Felix came to the Rio Games tied with Jackie Joyner-Kersee for the most medals and with Sanya Richards-Ross and Evelyn Ashford for the most golds with four. Felix now stands alone with the former and can break the latter with a win in Friday’s 4×400-meter relay.
Felix’s medal tally is not just a testament to her talent but also her longevity. She arrived at the Athens Games in 2004 and medaled in Beijing and London, though never in an individual 400. Felix planned on trying for the 200/400 double in Rio but finished 0.01 seconds behind Jenna Prandini for the third American 200-meter dash qualifying spot at the U.S. Olympic trials.
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Joyner-Kersee may still stake the claim of best American female track athlete. All six of her medals were in individual events, while Felix won one gold and three silver. Still, the development of Felix from a bony kid called “Chicken Legs” to four overall gold medals and three silvers is one of American track’s great stories, one that could get even better Friday.
