Sanya Richards has been the No 1 runner at 400 metres for five years, but she was not able to win an individual gold medal in Olympic or world competition until 2009 in the World Championships in Berlin, where she crossed the line in 49.00secs to win the individual 400 metres title. She also anchored the US team in the 4x400 metres relay to take a second gold.
In 2009, she ran the four fastest times in the world and won a share of the US$1m Golden League jackpot for the third time in her career, going undefeated in the six Golden League meetings. She was also named IAAF World Athlete of the Year for the second straight time.
