"Humble Kid": Olympic Champ Shaunae Miller-Uibo Praises Neeraj Chopra and India's Sprinting Potential
Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo calls Neeraj Chopra a humble kid and predicts Olympic medals for India's 400m runners.
Two-time Olympic gold medalist and Bahamian sprinting sensation Shaunae Miller-Uibo has expressed her admiration for India's javelin star Neeraj Chopra, describing him as a "humble kid" despite his massive global success. The legendary sprinter, who is currently in India as the international event ambassador for the Delhi Half Marathon (DHM) 2026, shared her thoughts on the Indian sporting landscape and her personal interactions with the athletics icon.
High Praise for Neeraj Chopra
Speaking about her connection with Neeraj Chopra, Miller-Uibo highlighted the athlete's grounded nature. She noted that despite achieving exceptional milestones in the sport, Chopra remains incredibly modest.
"I have met Chopra before, and you know, he is a very nice and very humble kid," she stated. "He has done exceptional things in the sport, and I am wishing him all the best. I am always rooting for him."
The Bahamian champion added that Chopra's talent makes the nation proud and remarked that it is a "blessing" to be able to compete in the same sporting era as him. Neeraj, a gold medalist at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and silver medalist at the Paris 2024 Olympics, has remained a beacon of Indian sports, even as he recently dealt with an ankle ligament injury that sidelined him from the 2026 Asian Games.
India's 400m Talent: A Gold Mine in the Making
Beyond her praise for Chopra, Miller-Uibo turned her attention to India's prowess in the 400m racing events. The two-time Olympic champion in the women's 400m (gold in 2016 and 2020) believes that India possesses a significant talent pool that could soon translate into Olympic hardware.
She pointed out that India has a history of producing "amazing 400-meter runners," particularly in the 4x400m relay categories for both men and women. Miller-Uibo believes that the current trajectory, highlighted by recent successes at the Asian Games, is a sign of things to come.
Recent Asian Games highlights mentioned by the athlete include:
- Women's 4x400m Relay: A gold medal victory by Kiran Pahal, Poovamma Machettira, Prachi Choudhary, and Vithya Ramraj.
- Men's 4x400m Relay: A bronze medal win by Dharmveer Choudhary, Jay Kumar, Manu TS, Vishal TK, and Rajesh Ramesh.
- Mixed 4x400m Relay: A silver medal achieved by the combined team of Manu, Poovamma, Vishal, Vithya, Jay, and Kiran.
Miller-Uibo emphasized that if these athletes continue to work hard, Olympic medals are well within their reach.
Looking Toward LA 2028
As one of the greatest 400m runners in history—chasing the legendary world record of 47.60 seconds set by Marita Koch in 1985—Miller-Uibo revealed her own future plans. She indicated that the LA 2028 Olympics will likely be her final appearance on the world's biggest stage.
Her goal is clear: she wants to walk away with another gold medal. She acknowledged the rising competition in the women's 400m, noting that many athletes are currently clocking exceptional times, which only adds to her excitement for the upcoming challenge.
Falling in Love with India
During her first full day in the country, Miller-Uibo expressed her delight at being in India. She mentioned that she is already "falling in love" with the country and is thrilled to be associated with the Delhi Half Marathon, describing it as an amazing event for an amazing cause.
She also touched upon her experience with Indian cuisine, mentioning that while she has been keeping the spice levels on the lighter side, she has thoroughly enjoyed the variety of foods she has tried so far.