An incredible 400-meter women's final on Monday night was decided on a dive.
Bahamian Shaunae Miller beat out favorite Allyson Felix thanks to a daring lunge at the finish line. Miller leaned forward, essentially diving past the finish line. In doing so, she crossed .07 seconds ahead of Felix to take the gold. Shericka Jackson of Jamaica got there in 49.85 to take bronze.
In the immediate aftermath of the event, many people were wondering if the move was legal. It is. And plenty are still upset that Miller opted to leave her feet to win a foot race.
But the fact is, the move is allowed and used often. Diving for the finish line can be tricky given timing, momentum and foot placement -- but it can pay off, as evidenced by Miller.
When crossing the finish line, it's not the hands, wrists, arms, nose or face that counts -- it's about whose torso hits the line first. Miller's did.
Take a look.
The dive worked: Photo-line finish and great pic from USA Today of Shaunae Miller beating out Allyson Felix. pic.twitter.com/KmuOaITFuL
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) August 16, 2016
If hands mattered, you'd constantly be seeing runners laying out and doing the Superman pose as they hit the finish line -- and gashing their bodies in the process.
Felix, running in lane 4, was the reigning 400-meter champion. She won the event in 2015 at worlds. Miller was considered a threat heading into Monday's final, however.
Former American Olympian/track star Lolo Jones chimed in on Twitter after Miller's win.
Ppl are mad Miller won with a dive but most pro's at one point have used that tactic to win. Miller didn't cheat Allyson, she won fair.
— Lolo Jones (@lolojones) August 16, 2016
Even though she didn't win gold, Felix's silver-medal finish made history. With this seventh medal, Felix has now won more Olympic hardware than any woman in history.
According to Felix, this is going to be the final race of her Olympic career, too -- a bittersweet way to go out. The 30-year-old had hoped to qualify for her specialty, the 200, but an ankle injury hampered her from qualifying for that event at U.S. Olympic trials earlier this summer.
Felix previously won golds in the 4x400-meter relay in 2008, in addition to the 200-meter, 4x100 and 4x400 in 2012. This is the third silver of her career, the first in the 400.
Two other Americans -- Natasha Hastings and Phyllis Francis -- finished fourth and fifth respectively in Monday night's final.
