Rio 2016: Shaunae Miller dives over line to win women's 400m gold medal

Athlete has cuts, bruises and burns after opting to dive

Shaunae Miller diving to victory (Reuters)

A sprinter from the Bahamas claimed the gold medal in the women’s Olympic 400-metres by diving across the finish line.

Shaunae Miller had been leading for most the race before the favourite, Allyson Felix from the US, began to close in on the home straight.

Withg the pair neck and neck, Miller dived across the finishing line in a desperate attempt to beat Felix. She finished with a time of 49.44 seconds, beating her American rival by just 0.06 seconds.

“I've never done it before. I have some cuts and bruises, a few burns.

“When I was on the ground I didn't know I'd won,” Miller said. “I still don't know how it happened.

“What was in my mind was I had to get a gold medal. The next thing I was on the ground. It's an amazing feeling.”

Despite some fans questioning how ethical it is to win by diving, the rules state you hit the finish line when your torso crosses the line, so the dive was completely legal.

Many athletes have taken to social media to come to Miller’s defence. American Lolo Jones said the US have won plenty of medals by diving and that Miller didn’t cheat Felix.