Shaunae Miller-Uibo

Shaunae Miller-Uibo is a Bahamian track and field sprinter who competes in the 200 and 400 metres. Quotes My favourite memory in track came as a ten-year-old competing at the CUT (Caribbean Union of Teachers) Games in Jamaica. There I ended up winning the overall championship for my division and, on reflection, that is the moment I started to fall in love with the sport. I started athletics from the age of six, but to be told just a week before I was due to compete in Jamaica was such an exciting memory. My dad delivered the news I would be going and I replied straight away, ‘okay, I’m ready!’ It was the first time I competed outside of The Bahamas and it was an amazing feeling to be surrounded by a team of young athletes. It opened up a whole new world for me. In Kingston, I won the 100m and the 200m, finished second in the 400m and long jump and second to last in the softball throw. I was horrible at that event! I also vividly recall the 400m. I was beaten by a Jamaican girl by about 50 metres and I am still trying to figure out to this day who won that 400m. They didn’t award any individual medals at that meet but they handed out an overall award, which I won. I was a little shocked to receive it, and back then I found it all a bit embarrassing because I was so shy. But at the same time I was excited and it was nice to make my country, my team-mates and my family proud. I was so inspired I went home to my father and said, ‘I want to one day be a Golden Girl.’ I think they laughed at me at first, but that’s what I am now doing - representing my country at international events. I have always loved to compete. I’d compete at everything with my cousin from running races around the house to playing a board game. Once I realised I had a talent from track and field, I couldn’t wait to race. I remember as a younger person losing my very first 400m race and saying to my dad, ‘I have to go back and compete in the 400m again next week’. I was always so competitive. I’ve been fortunate to go and win world U18 and world U20 titles and more recently the Olympic gold but I don’t think anything quite matches that peak point of excitement of competing at the CUT Games. That is my favourite track memory. That moment when... Miller-Uibo decided she wanted to become a 'Golden Girl', July 08 2017 Basically the entire country was up really early in the morning watching them. When they won, everybody was out in the streets celebrating. That moment got me really excited, like, 'I want to do this. I want to make people proud like this as well. I still feel as though I'm that little kid trying to accomplish my goals. I've got another Olympics in me. I'm jumping the gun saying this, because I haven't finished discussions with my coach, but at the next indoors, I am going to be looking at doing the pentathlon and then maybe testing out a heptathlon. I'm not very good at javelin so I would have to put in a whole lot of work. Tokyo 2020: Shaunae Miller-Uibo on her leap for gold and chasing more Olympic success, June 19 2021 External Links Category:Track and field athletes Category:Living people