Rai Benjamin played the role of hero for Team USA on Saturday as he held off Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo in a sprint to the 4x400m relay gold.
The Stade de France crowed was treated to a thriller as every bit of Benjamin’s anchor leg was needed to pull off the victory for the Americas, who finished in 2:54:43 — an Olympic record.
Botswana grabbed the silver in 2:54:53 and Great Britain won bronze in 2:55.83.
Benjamin was joined by Christopher Bailey, Vernon Norwood and Bryce Deadmon and their group felt the pressure from the start as they struggled to make up the stagger after the first exchange. But Norwood seemed relaxed with the baton and pulled the U.S. to second place — from sixth — as Deadmon waited his turn.
Deadmon surged immediately after the pass from Norwood and opened up a narrow lead heading into the final exchange with Benjamin.
Botswana’s Anthony Pesela handed off to Tebogo and set up the anchor showdown against Benjamin, who bolted through the final turn and never relinquished his lead.
Benjamin’s inspired performance gave the U.S. another title, a new record in the 4x400m relay and meant that his teammate, Quincy Wilson, became the youngest Olympic track and field gold medalist at 16 years old.
Wilson served as an alternate and ran for the 4x400m team in the qualifying round. He broke the old record set by fellow American Bob Mathias who was 17 when he struck gold in the decathlon at London Olympics in 1948.
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