London 2012 Track and Field: Sanya Richards-Ross Wins Gold in Women's 400-Meter Sprint

American sprinter Sanya Richards-Ross wore Chanel earrings and left her long hair to flow behind her as she ran across the track - this athlete wanted to win in style.

And did she ever.

The runner, 27, took home the gold in the women's 400-meter sprint finals on Aug. 5 with a time of 49.55 seconds.

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The bronze medal she received in the 2008 Beijing Games, with a time of 49.93, made her long for a taste of gold and for four years, that is what Ross used to fuel herself in her training for the London Olympics.

"I prepared for this moment over and over for the last four years," Richards-Ross said on Sunday after the race.

Richards-Ross learned from her mistakes at the Beijing Games and started behind in the beginning of the sprint on Sunday, saving most of her energy for the last 100-meters, where she then zoomed past her other competitors. Some have said her loss in 2008 was because she pushed too hard in the start, leaving her less power for the last half of the sprint, where it matters more closer to the finish line.  

The runner sported an American flag on her back as she basked in her new victory. Sunday's win was her first individual gold medal

American DeeDee Trotter took bronze this year, with a time of 49.72 behind silver medallist, Team Britian's Christine Ohuruogu.

The gold medal for Ricards-Ross was America's first track and field medal at the London Olympics.