The U.S. stormed to its eighth straight win in the women’s 4x400m relay in the Olympics on Saturday — and just a tenth of a second from a world record.
It was the final track and field event of the Paris Games and closed more than a week of competition at Stade de France with a memorable statement.
Shamier Little, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Gabby Thomas and Alexis Holmes powered the American squad to 3:15.27 finish and blowing past the prior national record set in Seoul in 1988.
“I think this generation of track and field is just on a different level,” McLaughlin-Levrone said. “Everything is improving including us, including our technique, including how we prepare.
The Netherlands won the silver medal in 3:19.50, while Great Britain took the bronze medal in 3:19.72.
Team USA utilized a lineup for the final that was not confirmed until before the race. Little was the member of the squad (including Quanera Hayes, Aaliyah Butler and Kaylyn Brown) that ran in the qualifying round in 3:21.44.
Thomas, McLaughlin-Levrone and Holmes were added for Saturday’s showdown.
Each leg of the final was an impressive effort as Little (49.48), McLaughlin-Levrone (47.71), Gabby Thomas (49.30) and Holmes (48.78) all pumped out times under 50 seconds, en route to another relay gold.
McLaughlin-Levrone, who ran the second leg, did not get the nod to run anchor in this relay, but credited the team’s coaches with assembling a lineup built to win.
“It was kind of a joint decision between me and the coaches,” she said. “We knew it was gonna look a little unconventional.”
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