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Larisa Epatko
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Larisa Epatko

Olympic highlights from Day 10: Photo finish at the track

World

The women’s 400-meter race at the Rio Olympics on Monday took an unusual turn when the Bahamas’ Shaunae Miller dove over the finish line to ensure the gold.

Watch the dramatic finish:

U.S. contender Allyson Felix lost her lead and earned a silver medal, becoming the most decorated American woman in Olympic track and field history. Here’s what she had to say about Monday’s event:

Felix, who battled an ankle injury before the Games, told NBC’s Today Show on Tuesday: “It wasn’t my best race. I tried to give all I had. It was time to just fight.”

When asked about Miller’s headlong leap, Felix took it in stride, saying she was “not too used to seeing it (but) it happens every now and then.”

Indeed at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, the United States’ David Neville used the same move, ironically, to pass the Bahamas’ Chris Brown to secure the bronze medal.

And back in Rio, the technique was used earlier in the day when Brazilian runner Joao Vitor de Oliveira lunged and face-planted ahead of other competitors in the 110-meter hurdles to qualify for the semifinal:

Meanwhile, on the gymnastics mat, U.S. standout Simone Biles reminded fans she’s only human when she slipped on the balance beam, earning a bronze medal instead of her usual gold:

Biles, a three-time gold medal winner, quickly grabbed the beam at one point to keep from falling. She later said, “I’m disappointed in my beam set, not in the medal I got.”

Sanne Wevers of the Netherlands took home the gold for the event. And Biles’ teammate, Laurie Hernandez, earned a silver-place finish, her first individual medal of the Olympic Games:

Hernandez’s parents can relax, NBC Olympics noted on Twitter:

Biles will have another chance to stand on the podium in the final gymnastics event on Tuesday, the women’s floor exercise.

MORE HIGHLIGHTS AND LOWLIGHTS

  • Kenya’s David Rudisha won his second straight Olympic 800-meter gold medal, the first person to defend an Olympic 800 meter gold since 1964:

  • Jamaica’s Usain Bolt won his third consecutive gold for the 100-meter race:

  • The news was far grimmer for Wilhem Belocian of France, who was disqualified from his first Olympic race because of a false start:

  • Japanese pole vaulter Hiroki Ogita failed to qualify in his event for another reason when a body part got in the way.
  • But when Cuban wrestler Mijain Lopez made history by winning his third straight gold medal after he beat Turkey’s Riza Kayaalp, his elated coach did not appear to expect what would happen next:

A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy.

Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue.

Larisa Epatko
By —

Larisa Epatko

Larisa Epatko produced multimedia web features and broadcast reports with a focus on foreign affairs for the PBS NewsHour. She has reported in places such as Jordan, Pakistan, Iraq, Haiti, Sudan, Western Sahara, Guantanamo Bay, China, Vietnam, South Korea, Turkey, Germany and Ireland.

@NewsHourWorld

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