RIO DE JANEIRO — Even as she dealt with the aftereffects of a lingering ankle injury and a disappointing turn through last month’s U.S. team trials, there was no stopping Allyson Felix from reaching the medal podium. It was not the medal she wanted, however.
Shaunae Miller of Bahamas dove across the line to claim gold in the 400 meters in 49.44 seconds, .07 ahead of Felix (49.51), who nonetheless earned her seventh career Olympic medal.
Felix was trailing as they came out of the curve, and she gained throughout the stretch, coming up inches short.
Shericka Jackson (49.85) of Jamaica took bronze.
The seventh medal makes her the most decorated female track athlete in the USA’s Olympic history, breaking her tie with Jackie Joyner-Kersee. Kersee’s husband, Bob, is Felix’s longtime coach.
It was her first Olympic 400, though Felix won gold medals as part of the USA’s 4x400 relay in Beijing in 2008 and in London four years later.
Medaling takes at least some sting out of Felix’s disappointment from not making the USA team in the 200, her marquee event. Felix won gold in the 200 at the London Games and took silver in Beijing and at the 2004 Athens Games.
