Another Olympic wonder birthed as Shaunae Miller dives to Gold

Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas won gold in dramatic fashion in the women’s 400-metre final Monday night in Rio.

With 50 metres to go, Miller had the reigning world champion — Allyson Felix — gaining on her. And on a wet, rainy night at the Olympic stadium, Miller took a leap of faith at the finish line, diving and sliding along the track to upset the American with only 7-100ths of a second separating the two athletes.

Miller set a personal best, winning in 49.44 seconds. Felix finished in 49.51, while Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson won bronze in 49.85.

“I don’t know what happened. My mind just went blank,” Miller said. “The only thing I was thinking (about) was the gold medal, and the next thing I know, I was on the ground.”

Miller didn’t get up for several minutes after taking the leap, laying on her back catching her breath and almost in disbelief in what just happened.

Her first sign she’d won came from the stands, from a familiar voice.

“I heard my mom screaming,” Miller said. “When I heard her screaming, I was like, `OK, I had to have won the race.’ ”

Miller came out strong in Lane 7, and never gave up her lead. She faded coming down the final stretch, but held off Felix, who quickly closed the gap in Lane 4.

Felix’s silver is her seventh Olympic medal, making her the most decorated American female track and field Olympian. Among her accolades include gold medals in the 200, the 4×100 and the 4×400 relay teams at the 2012 London Olympics.