Bahamian athlete sprinter Shaunae Miller-Uibo accused the Olympic program of a double standard while preparing to refuse to defend her Olympic title at 400 meters. The sprinter is already preparing to focus on a fight with British hope in sprint Dina Asher-Smith, 200 meters, after the athletics bosses refused to change the program in Tokyo and help experience the first Olympic double champion of 200 and 400 meters of 25 years.
The 26-year-old athlete said that male athletes had an easier way to such a double with the semi-finals at 400 meters, which took place three days before the final, compared to two for women.
The Bahamian Olympic Committee has written to world athletics asking for a change in the program, but the headquarters have explained that they can not adjust the program as it is very complex due to the inclusion of mixed relay for the first time in history.
“As many as I want a new title of 200 meters, I wanted to defend my Olympic title at 400 meters. Men have this opportunity as disciplines are not detected. All we wanted is to do the same for women. Men have a two-day break between the semi-finals at 400 meters and the final. If they did this for the women, then everything would have been fine”, said Shaunae Miller-Uibo.
While many sprinters run on 100 and 200 meters, only Michael Johnson, Marie-Jose Perec, and Valerie Ann Brisco-Hooks have made an Olympic double 200 and 400 meters. Shaunae Miller-Uibo said she’s still not categorical, but it’s almost certain that she would ignore 400 meters.
Recently, the World Champion of 200 meters Dina Asher-Smith also criticized sponsors and advertisers for the double standard: “If you really wanted to change the way women athletes are used in marketing, which is chosen to represent an industry before society, they would do so”.
Shaunae Miller-Uibo has 21.74 seconds to 200 meters, while Dina Asher-Smith has 21.88 seconds.
“She’s a great competitor. I think we’ll give the best against each other”, said Shaunae Miller-Uibo.
