Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser became the third-fastest female 400m runner in history after completing the sprint in 48.14 seconds in the ongoing World Athletics Championships on Friday.
Salwa Eid Naser Wins World 400m Title
The Nigerian-born Eid Naser, who is 21-year-old, clinched a gold medal and became the first Asian to win the women’s 400 metres world title while Shaunae Mille-Uibo of The Bahamas won the silver medal, clocking 48.37 seconds. Shericka Jackson of Jamaica bagged bronze after completing the race in 49.47 seconds.
After running the fastest 400 metres since 1985, Eid Naser seemed to be in a state of shock as she sat on the track and covered her mouth with her hand at the end of the race.
Meanwhile, Naser had already won a bronze in the 4x400m mixed relay. She is elated after becoming the ‘world champion’.
International Association of Athletics Federations’ (IAAF) official website quoted Naser as saying, “This is crazy. I already did the mixed relays and I was just hoping for the best, but now I’m world champion. I’m really short of words to describe how I’m feeling, it’s just crazy. I’m screaming I’m so happy.”
She further added, “It’s been so tough with all the training and injuries, and getting there has been hard. I didn’t want to chase because I’m so used to chasing all the time, so I had to go out fast, and I just kept going. To cross the line and see that I am world champion in that amazing time, I just couldn’t believe it.”
Meanwhile, Naser’s only two losses since the 2017 Worlds were when she was runner-up to Miller-Uibo, once in 2017 and once in 2018. Naser lowered her national record in both of those defeats, but each time she came off the turn nearly even with the six-inches-taller Miller-Uibo, who powered past her in the final straightaway.
This time, Naser made up the stagger on Jonathas in about 100 meters. Then she took aim at Miller-Uibo two lanes to her outside. She gapped her by the time they came around the 300-meter curve and lowered her national record by .94 of a second. Miller-Uibo had to do the chasing, and she ran out of track while still PRing by six tenths.
Naser said, “Of course it was a surprise to beat Miller-Uibo. I already said thank you to [Miller-Uibo] because without her I don’t think I would have gone this fast.”
