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(COMBO) This combination of pictures created on August 15, 2016 shows
Bahamas's Shaunae Miller diving to cross the finish line to win the Women's 400m Final during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 15, 2016.   / AFP / OLIVIER MORIN        (Photo credit should read OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/Getty Images)
(COMBO) This combination of pictures created on August 15, 2016 shows Bahamas's Shaunae Miller diving to cross the finish line to win the Women's 400m Final during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 15, 2016. / AFP / OLIVIER MORIN (Photo credit should read OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/Getty Images)OLIVIER MORIN/Getty Images

Olympic Track and Field 2016: Women's 400M Medal Winners, Times and Results

Scott PolacekAug 15, 2016

The Bahamas' Shaunae Miller is a sprinter, but she won an Olympic gold medal thanks to a timely dive in Rio de Janeiro on Monday.

Miller launched across the finish line during the women's 400-meter dash to edge the United States' Allyson Felix with a time of 49.44 seconds. Felix picked up the silver with a mark of 49.51 seconds, while Jamaica's Shericka Jackson earned the bronze with a time of 49.85 seconds.

Here are the full results, courtesy of the Rio Games' official website:

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1Shaunae MillerBahamas49.44
2Allyson FelixUnited States49.51
3Shericka JacksonJamaica49.85
4Natasha HastingsUnited States50.34
5Phyllis FrancisUnited States50.41
6Stephenie Ann McPhersonJamaica50.97
7Olha ZemlyakUkraine51.24
8Libania GrenotItaly51.25

It appeared as though Felix was going to reach the finish first with a late burst, but Miller threw herself across the line just before the American crossed.

NBC Olympics passed along the dramatic moment:

Steve Greenberg of the Chicago Sun-Times reacted to the development:

Tom Fordyce of BBC called it “the dive of desire,” and former Olympian and gold medalist Michael Johnson praised Miller’s effort:

According to ESPN Stats & Info, Miller joined an exclusive club:

Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports had some fun with the finish:

Former Olympian Lolo Jones responded to any criticism surrounding Miller’s strategy:

Greg Howard of New York Times Magazine wasn’t quite ready to concede Miller did it on purpose:

Felix added one of the few things missing from her illustrious Olympic resume: a medal in the individual 400. While Felix won the event at the 2015 World Championships, the Rio Games marked the first time she competed in the event at the Olympics.

Felix was the marquee name entering Monday's race, especially after she turned in the fastest time (49.67 seconds) during Sunday's semifinals.

She had already cemented her Olympic legacy by winning the gold medal in the 200-meter dash at the 2012 Games, silvers in the 200 at the 2004 and 2008 Games and golds as part of the 4x400-meter relay team at the 2008 Olympics and the 4x100-meter and 4x400 relay teams at the 2012 Games.

However, she still made history Monday, as NBC Olympics and Paul Carr of ESPN Stats & Info shared:

Her performance at the 2012 Games in London made her the first American woman to win three golds in track and field at one Olympics since Florence Griffith Joyner did so in 1988, per NBC Olympics.

Felix wasn't the only American in Monday's race, as Natasha Hastings and Phyllis Francis finished fourth and fifth.

The United States representatives were part of a loaded field. Miller, Felix and Jackson had finished on the podium at the 2015 World Championships as well, and Christine Ohuruogu of Great Britain, who won gold in the at the 2008 Olympics and silver at the 2012 Games, didn't even advance to the final.

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Miller talked about her performance after the win, per Rick Maese of the Washington Post: “This is the moment I have been waiting for. I just gave it my all. I am just so happy, so grateful, such emotions I just can’t say.”

Felix discussed the finish, per Maese: “I didn’t feel like I had any more left to give. I’m a competitor and I went for it. I think in the moment, it’s painful.”

Even so, Felix has nothing left to prove on the track. Monday’s performance was yet another example of her ability to win medals on the biggest stages.

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