Miller-Uibo could be forced to abandon the 400m for Tokyo Olympics

Written by Leighton Levy. Posted in Olympics. | 07 July 2020 | 3008 Views
Tags: Athletics, 200M, 400M, Romell Knowles, Shaunae Milleruibo, The Bahamas, Tokyo Olympics

Citing the perceived reluctance of the Olympic organisers to adjust the schedule at next summer’s Games, 2016 Olympic 400m champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo is mulling stepping down to the 200m for Tokyo 2021.

The 26-year-old Bahamian has been the best 200/400m sprinter in the world over the past two seasons, has requested an adjustment to the schedule that would allow her to attempt the double, something they have done to accommodate Americans Michael Johnson and Allyson Felix as well as French track icon Marie Jose Perec.

However, to date, the Bahamian and her Olympic committee have heard nothing to suggest that the IOC will honour her request.

“We have made an appeal to have the schedule changed. We’ve not received a positive response as yet, but we remain hopeful that they would take another look at it because it means so much to us and it means so much to Shaunae Miller-Uibo,” said Bahamas Olympic Committee President Romell Knowles while speaking with the Bahamas Guardian.

“To come from such a small island and to get an opportunity to be among the best in the world in both the 200 and 400 meters is just phenomenal. The precedence has already been set and we would just like to be given that opportunity. It means so much to a little country like ours that has produced such great athletes.”

Meanwhile, Miller-Uibo, for now, seems resigned to the possibility that she will have to drop one of her events.

“As it is now, the schedule isn’t set up for me to do two events, so I would have to choose one event and we’re leaning more toward the 200 meters seeing that we already have the 400 meters title,” Miller-Uibo told the Bahamas Guardian.

“We wanted to do both – I wanted to go after the 200 metres title and also wanted to defend my 400 meters title, but the way the schedule is set up, it would be difficult to do both. It’s been that way for a few years now. When they didn’t change the schedule, we had to make some decisions and right now, we’re leaning toward the 200. Nothing is finalized as yet, but that’s the way it is right now.”

Only three athletes have ever won the 200/400m double at the Olympic Games – Johnson and Perec and Valerie Brisco-Hooks.