Sha’Carri Richardson’s Olympic debut in the 4×100 meter relay was a defining moment as she not only secured a gold medal but also showcased her confident and dynamic personality. As she crossed the finish line, Richardson, known for her flair and competitiveness, made a memorable statement by glancing back at the competitors trailing behind her and forcefully stomping her foot on the track. This performance came just a week after she claimed a silver medal in the 100 meters, solidifying her status as a dominant force in sprinting.
Richardson’s electrifying performance helped propel the U.S. women’s relay team from third to first place in the final leg of the race. Her teammates, who included 100-meter bronze medalist Melissa Jefferson, Twanisha Terry, and 200-meter champion Gabby Thomas, also contributed significantly to the victory. Richardson expressed her comfort and confidence in racing alongside these athletes, particularly as they share the same training environment. This synergy undoubtedly played a role in their successful performance, as they demonstrated both speed and cohesion on the track.
However, while the U.S. women’s team celebrated their victory, the U.S. men’s 4×100 meter relay team faced yet another disappointing outcome. This marked the continuation of a 20-year streak without a medal in this event at the Olympics. The men’s race quickly unraveled during the first baton exchange when Christian Coleman collided with Kenny Bednarek, resulting in an awkward and poorly executed pass. By the time Fred Kerley took the baton for the anchor leg, the U.S. team had fallen to seventh place and was ultimately disqualified due to the illegal baton exchange. The absence of Noah Lyles, who opted out of the Olympics after winning a bronze medal in the 200 meters while battling COVID, added to the team’s struggles. It is unlikely, however, that even Lyles could have salvaged the race given the magnitude of the mistakes made.
With the U.S. men out of contention, Canada seized the opportunity, with Andre De Grasse anchoring the team to victory in a time of 37.50 seconds. This victory was particularly significant for De Grasse, who had experienced a disappointing Olympics up until that point. It was also Canada’s first medal in the men’s 4×100 meter relay since Donovan Bailey led them to gold in 1996. South Africa secured the silver medal, while Britain claimed the bronze.
In contrast to the disappointment of the men’s relay, American Rai Benjamin finally had his moment of glory in the 400 meter hurdles. Benjamin, who had long been overshadowed by world-record holder Karsten Warholm, claimed his first individual major title by overtaking the defending champion with a time of 46.46 seconds. Although this race did not match the historic speed of their Tokyo showdown, where Warholm set the world record, Benjamin’s performance was still remarkable. Alison dos Santos of Brazil finished third, repeating his podium finish from the previous Olympics, resulting in the same three men standing on the podium as in Tokyo.
The U.S. men’s relay failure drew criticism from Carl Lewis, a two-time Olympic champion in the event, who expressed his frustration with the recurring issues. Lewis, never one to shy away from speaking his mind, suggested that the U.S. develop a relay manual to address the underlying problems. He pointed to the persistent issues of politics, drama, and deception that have plagued the team, arguing that if these problems were resolved, the U.S. would undoubtedly field the fastest relay team in the world. Some attributed the latest failure to the impact of the lineup changes, noting that Lyles, who anchored the U.S. to victory at the previous World Championships, likely would have done so again at the Stade de France if he had competed.
