(Reuters) – Shaunae Miller-Uibo of Bahama has hit out at athletic bosses over scheduling races that could dispel her hopes of becoming the first runner to claim a 200-400-meter Olympic double in 25 years.
The women’s 400m semi-final at this year’s Tokyo Games is expected to take place two days before the final, compared to the men’s event, which has an extra day gap.
Overlap of the 200m and 400m races also means that Miller-Uibo, who won gold in the 400m at the Rio Olympics five years ago, will have to run twice on consecutive days if she is to win the double, while the men will only have the double to do so once.
The 26-year-old, who aims to emulate Michael Johnson, Marie-Jose Perec and Valerie Brisco-Hooks, said the Bahamas Olympic Committee’s request to revise the schedule had been rejected.
“As much as I wanted a new title in the 200 meters, I also wanted to defend my Olympic one,” Miller-Uibo told The Times. “The guys have an opportunity where their events don’t clash and so all we wanted was a chance to double down.
“The boys had a two-day break between the 400m semis and the final. If they had opened that for the girls then it would have been fine. ”
Miller-Uibo said it was almost certain to ignore the 400m, shifting its focus to the shorter distance and a potential battle with British Dina Asher-Smith. “She’s a great competitor,” said Miller-Uibo. “I think we will bring the best out of each other.”
Miller-Uibo’s comments come days after World Athletics announced a series of pledges to “further promote the role of girls and women” in the sport.