On running a WL 400m and making chocolate: Shaunae Miller-Uibo

Stuart Weir wrote his second column on Brussels on our Bahamian friend, Shaunae Miller-Uibo. Shaunae Miller-Uibo, in my mind is a true champion. Her London World Champs was less than her dreams, but she showed class, laughed a bit and then, over the past two weeks, ran well over 100 meters, 200 meters PB and WL, and 400 meters WL.

Shaunae Miller-Uibo, photo by PhotoRun.net

Shaunae Miller-Uibo

It has been a remarkable 4 weeks for Shaunae Miller-Uibo of Bahamas. She almost ran a magnificent 400 race at London 2017, leading with about 20 metres to go before stumbling and finishing fourth.

A few days later she took bronze in the 200 in the World Championship, commenting: “I’m thankful for my performance. The ladies brought their A game and it was really competitive. That’s what I love to do: compete against the best. It was an amazing feeling, I had some fun and now I’m going home with a bronze medal too, so I’m really happy. It’s been a great experience for me, with my first attempt at the double. It was different but I liked it”.

The following week she ran the 100 meters at the Birmingham Diamond League, running 11.19 to reach the final and 11.37 in the final.

In Zurich a week later, it was the Diamond League final in the 200 where she took first place defeating Olympic champion, Elaine Thompson, and World Champion, Dafne Schippers, commenting: “I thank God for this victory, such a fast time, in my last 200m race of the season. I am really happy. I tried really hard and went for a fast race. Wow, I achieved a PR and a NR. It is unfortunate that it did not happen earlier. There was definitely some energy left in my legs. I just wanted to have fun in this race. The duel between Schippers and Thompson? I do not focus on that, only on myself”. When I asked her if she now saw herself as a 200 and 400 runner, she replied that she was definitely a 400 runner and was just having fun with the 200!

In Brussels she won the 400, a second Diamond title in a week. She recorded a world lead of 49.46 to win but did not comment after the race as she felt ill, and her press conference was also cancelled.

She still found time earlier in the week to visit a Belgian Chocolate workshop and be photographed making chocolates – a magnificent athlete with a real sense of fun.