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IAAF World Championships

Allyson Felix Dominates for 400m Gold at World Championships

Allyson Felix Dominates for 400m Gold at World Championships

Aug 27, 2015 by Taylor Dutch
Allyson Felix Dominates for 400m Gold at World Championships
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BEIJING - 200m Olympic Champion Allyson Felix proved she can dominate the 400m as well after winning her first World Championship in the one-lap distance. The performance marks nine World Championship gold medals, the most world gold medals won by an American athlete. 

“It took me out of my comfort zone and challenged me, and made me step up,” Felix said after her winning performance. 
 
Felix had the win locked in from the final turn and closed into the finish line in a world leading-time of 49.26. The time is just shy of the American record of 48.70 which is owned by 400m Olympic Champion Sanya Richards-Ross. 
 

The three-time 200m World Champion made the decision to pursue the 400m in Beijing after the USATF Outdoor Championships when she won in 50.19. The decision paid off Thursday night at National Stadium as the 29-year-old dominated the race until the very end for a new personal best. 
 
Felix was followed by Georgia alum Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas who took home her first ever World silver medal. Miller followed Felix’s fast lead with a new personal best of 49.67. Sharika Jackson of Jamaica followed for bronze in another personal best mark of 49.99. 
 


Felix’s performance is a strong indicator of her strength in the event heading into the 2016 Olympics, which makes track fans wonder, will she attempt the 200m and 400m double in Rio?

“If the schedule is right and if I’m fit enough and body’s feeling good then I’d like to attempt but it has to be one of those perfect storm kind of things," Felix told the media. 

As the track and field schedule stands now, the double will be difficult to handle. The first two rounds of the 400m are on August 13th and 14th, while the final takes place the night of the 15th, just one hour after the first round of the 200m. 

The last American to complete the 400m and 200m double was Sanya Richards-Ross at the 2012 Olympics in London. Richards-Ross competed in three rounds of the 400m August 3rd, 4th and 5th where she ultimately won her first ever Olympic gold medal in the open 400m. She continued the meet with the 200m rounds on August 6th, 7th and 8th where she finished fifth overall. 

If the 2016 schedule remains the same and doesn't allow Felix to double, she said that her preference would be to stick with the 200m, an event where she has won three World Championship titles and one Olympic gold. 

Felix maintains that even with her enormous medal count in the shorter distances, the decision to run the 400m challenged her for the better. 

“It was a joint decision by my coach, he had been seeing how my training was going on and he trusted that I could do it, and when he says something I believe it and wanted to challenge myself," Felix said. 

“I love to win, that’s enough for me. That’s enough of a challenge to keep going," she said. 

Watch Felix's full interview after winning the 400m World Championship title:

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