Friday, November 3rd, 2023.- A dramatic turn of events in the female's 400 meters hurdles final. Panamanian athlete Gianna Úrsula Woodruff, one of her country's hopefuls to contend for a medal at The Santiago 2023 Pan American Games, had won the final with a time of 56.44 seconds.

However, once the day of athletics at the Estadio Nacional was over, she received the worst news: she was disqualified for knocking down the ninth hurdle with her lead foot, which meant the gold medal went to Brazilian Marlene Santos, who achieved the second-best time of 57.18 seconds.

As a result, Costa Rican Daniela Rojas (57.41 seconds) moved up to the second step of the podium, while Michelle Smith from the Virgin Islands took the bronze (57.53 seconds).

According to the rules, it is prohibited to knock down or displace any hurdle with the hand, body, or the upper part of the lead leg.

This was a tough blow for Woodruff, as she had become the first female from Panama to secure a victory in the history of the Pan American Games.

Written by Ernesto Bustos B. - Rodrigo Góme; translated by Felipe Vergara / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport
Photo by Alejandro Pagni / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport