“In 2008, what I learned is you don’t win the race until you win the race,” said Richards-Ross. Waiting a few moments for confirmation was easy. Waiting four years for another chance at individual Olympic gold was the hard part.Richards-Ross entered the Beijing Olympics as the overwhelming 400-meter favorite, but faded from first to third over the final stretch. Of the eight runners in the field, she went out the fastest, and sat in third approaching the final straight. Then, Richard-Ross summoned a decisive burst of speed for the win.The official results revealed Richards-Ross in first with a time of 49.55 seconds, earning the first US gold of the track and field competition. Ohuruogu captured silver in 49.70 and Trotter took bronze in 49.72.