The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Despite the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, Shaunae Miller-Uibo admitted that she didn’t have any problems making the adjustment as she prepares for the trek towards the postponed 2020 Olympic Games.

“I won’t say it was difficult for me. I’m more of an indoor person, so staying at home wasn’t a problem for me,” said Miller-Uibo about changes that sporting athletes have had to endure since the pandemic struck last March, leaving the sporting world in a topsy turvy circle.

“The most difficult thing was not being able to train so much, but we got a lot of virtual stuff done and we were able to work on a lot of things.

“We still got a lot of time trials in practice and our coach was able to put on a few meets for us, so it wasn’t that bad.”

The reigning Olympic and Commonwealth Games 400 metre champion was addressing the international media via Zoom over the weekend regarding the upcoming season and the delayed Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, July 23 to August 8.

She acknowledged the fact that it was difficult for her not being able to return home to the Bahamas during the height of the pandemic, even though she was right in Florida training.

“I couldn’t see them in person, but I was able to FaceTime my family every day,” she said. “So that was kind of difficult for me, but I had my husband there with me, so it was pretty good.

“The pandemic wasn’t hard for me because I’m more of an indoor person, so it was more just kicking back and relaxing until training starts. That was my everyday routine.”

She noted, however, that her husband Maicel was able to create an at-home gym that gives her space to train. She stated that she only gave her opinion on where exactly it should be located.

If there was one thing that really disturbed her during the pandemic, it was the loss of her pet dog.

Miller-Uibo almost came to tears and was too composed to talk about it.

She did talk about her training sessions and how she was able to rebound from her stunning defeat to Salwa Eid Naser from Bahrain at the 2019 World Championships. The 26-year-old Miller-Uibo had an impressive showing with the limited amount of meets last year and has also started this year off with two record breaking performances.

Her latest came on Saturday at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in New York where she clocked a world leading time of 50.21 seconds.

It turned out to be another North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) and Bahamian national record, shattering the previous mark of 50.34 that was established by Christine Amertil on March 12, 2006 at the World Indoor Championships in Moscow, Russia.

With the time, Miller-Uibo moved up to eighth on the world indoor all-time list.

The feat came a week after Miller-Uibo posted a national record of 22.40 at the American Track League #2 in Fayetteville, Arkansas on January 31, erasing Pauline Davis-Thompson’s previous mark of 22.68 at the World Indoor Championships on March 11, 1995 in Barcelona, Spain.

“Coach (Lance Brauman) was really happy with the 22 last weekend. Our main goal is just to go out there and get a test at it,” Miller-Uibo reflected. “We were really happy with it.

“It was a little tricky getting a feel of the turns indoors, but it went pretty well. Our main focus this year is the 200m and getting a new title, so we will see how it goes.”

As a team, Miller-Uibo said she will continue to consult with her coach and leave the final decision to him as to whether or not she will compete in the 400 at the games.

“The main focus for me will be the 200,” she stressed.

With the limited schedule of events contested last year due to the pandemic, Miller-Uibo said she was able to concentrate a lot more on her training and it’s paying off big dividends, as evident by her performances.

“This year we’ve been working on our base and getting a lot stronger, working a lot harder in the gym and just trying to progress as best as we could.” she pointed out.

“I’ve been working a lot on my technique, trying to clean it up a bit. I’m trying to be a better athlete and try to work on the different areas that you don’t focus on all season.”

So far it has been working to perfection for Miller-Uibo.

She admitted, however, that although she had a great performance in the indoor 200m, she’s grateful that she came through injury free, considering that there were some concerns about how well her 6-feet, one-inch frame handled the steep curves on the one-lap 200m track.

“We went out there the day before to get a feel for it and I felt like I almost fell a few things,” Miller-Uibo stated. “But coach (Brauman) told me not to worry about it.

“So I went out there and said if I fall, I fall. In the end, I was still mindful of the turns. It’s a different feeling, obviously it was difficult to run with the steep turns, but I managed to run through it.”

One of the questions Miller-Uibo was asked was whether or not the pending investigations on Naser have any effect on being upgraded from silver to gold.

“I try not to focus on it. It was a big shocker, but this case is in the hands of CIS, so I’m not focusing on the past,” she insisted. “I’m just focusing on this season and being a better athlete this year.”

Although she believes that she has grown, Miller-Uibo still feels that her measure can only be achieved if she can get the opportunity to attempt the 200/400m again at a major competition like she did at the 2017 World Championships.

“It is a pretty difficult feat doing the 200/400 double. It’s been very difficult for years. I think only two other people have actually completed the double successfully,” said Miller-Uibo, who in her first attempt at the 2017 World’s in London, slipped and fell to fourth place in the 400m, only to come back and get a bronze in the 200m.

“It’s not an easy one. That’s why we were hoping that they would have at least cleared up the schedule so that we could at least focus on both separately, but that’s what’s so difficult about that.”

There’s also been the issue of her competing in the multiple heptathlon event. Once the Olympics is over and done with, Miller-Uibo said she might consider the event.

If there’s any consolation, she would have the support and background from her husband, Maicel Uibo, who is one of the world’s best decathletes, the equivalent to the women’s competition.

“We were looking more for an off year, but because of circumstances, we won’t have an off year right now,” she proclaimed. “So I have to go and talk to coach (Brauman) and see how he feels. But yeah, that’s still on.”

In the meantime, Miller-Uibo just wants to enjoy the unusual times she finds herself training and competing in as she works towards becoming another Olympic champion.