Sanya is pictured leading the field down the finish straight
of the Final and then (inset) crossing the line to take her
second global Championship individual Gold Medal.
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2012 Olympic Games |
400m Final Women. |
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| 1 |
Sanya |
RICHARDS-ROSS |
 (USA)
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49.55 |
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| 2 |
Christine |
OHURUOGU
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(GBR) |
49.70 |
SB
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| 3 |
DeeDee |
TROTTER |
(USA) |
49.72 |
SB
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| 4 |
Amantle |
MONTSHO
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(BOT) |
49.75 |
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| 5 |
Novlene
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WILLIAMS-MILLS
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(JAM) |
50.11 |
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| 6 |
Antonina |
KRIVOSHAPKA |
(RUS) |
50.17 |
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| 7 |
Francena |
MCCORORY
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(USA) |
50.33 |
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| 8 |
Rosemarie |
WHYTE |
(JAM) |
50.79 |
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In March 2007 Sanya was diagnosed with Behcets syndrome, a condition
that causes disturbances in the immune system, resulting in ulcers and
fatigue. Doctors say the condition could recur at any time. She takes
medication to regulate it, and it's been in remission since January
2008. Doctors struggled to diagnose the condition initially because
Behcet's is rarely seen in African-American women. By June 2007,
Richards' lips were so swollen and overcome by ulcers that they would
stick together, making it hard for her to breathe through her mouth and
almost impossible to talk. Despite the discomfort, Richards refused to
back off her training. So her coach, Baylor legend Clyde Hart, crushed a
Gatorade cup for her to bite down on to keep her lips apart and keep
her teeth from scraping the insides of her mouth. "She couldn't even
talk, her mouth was so painful," Hart said. "She had to write things
down to communicate with me. It was almost an impossible situation. But
she was determined to train." (Dallas News, 21 Jul 2008).
THE DALLAS BOOGIE
After claiming the 400m gold at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin,
she broke out with an impromptu jig at the finish line. When asked about
the celebration she replied: "It's called the Dallas Boogie. I do it
all the time at home in front of my family," said Richards, who
describes herself as a bit of a singer and dancer. "It's a Texas thing. I
told my sisters if I won I was going to do it." (berlin.iaaf.org, 18
Aug 2009)
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