By Jasmyne Tomas, University of Oregon SOJC Track Bureau
On Day Eight of the World Athletics Championships Oregon22, Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the Bahamas’ journey to an elusive gold medal ended when she won the women’s 400 meters.
At the 2015 and 2019 world championships, Miller-Uibo narrowly missed out on a gold medal in the event, bringing home two silvers—which didn’t suffice. This was the last box for Miller-Uibo to check off her list. Though she came in as a two-time Olympic champion, it was a worlds gold she was chasing.
Off the bend, on to the home stretch, she was clearly in first, and Miller-Uibo cruised her way to gold in the last 50 meters.
The gold medalist ran to the sideline to embrace her loved ones, there she took the Bahamian flag, wrapped it around her shoulders and crouched down to lay on the track right beside her family.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said Miller-Uibo. “And the main thing for us this season was the world championships and a gold medal. I’m just really happy.”
The medal she earned Friday night made her the first woman in the 400 meters to win at worlds, the Olympics, world indoors, U20 worlds, and the world youth championships.
Miller-Uibo finished at 49.11 seconds, the fastest time this year. In second, earning the first medal for her country in the 400 meters, was Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic at 49.60 seconds, and just .15 of a second behind Paulino was Barbados’ Sada Williams with a national record at 49.75 seconds, winning her country’s second-ever medal.
“It is a very overwhelming feeling that I can’t begin to describe. I’m super happy about my performance and national record,” said Williams. “I just wanted to go out there and run under 50 seconds, and if that got me on the podium, I would be happy. I can only imagine how happy they are at home.”
Paulino had already won a gold medal as part of the Dominican Republic’s 4×400 mixed relay on Day One.
“I am leaving this Champs with one gold and one silver,” she said. “I am privileged to be able to represent my country and take it to the highest level. The Dominican Republic is a force to be reckoned with.”
Despite coming in as the heavy favorite, Miller-Uibo dealt with several injuries and struggled at the beginning of her season.
“We’ve been through a lot of injuries this season,” said Miller-Uibo in an interview with FloTrack after the first rounds. “Can’t seem to catch a break from some injuries, but you know, geared up and ready for the champs.”
With the 2024 Paris Olympics just a couple years away, Miller-Uibo has decided that she will not take a shot at history and defend her 400-meter title for a third time. She announced this is the last year she’ll focus on the event.
“This is my last year of really focusing on the 400,” said Miller-Uibo. “I want to have some fun in my last few years of the sport.”
Her focus will shift to the 200 meters, an event she is no stranger to. Miller-Uibo won a bronze medal at the 2017 world championships. Running it back to her childhood, the sport may also see her dabble in the multis, the event in which her husband, Maicel Uibo of Estonia, competes. Maicel left fairly soon after Miller-Ubio won, as he was competing the next morning in the decathlon.
