In 4x100, the USA will seek to make a double while men will try to end the 24-year drought of Olympic gold. While Italy is in the hunt for a title defence, Great Britain is not to be ruled out in the women’s. As for 4x400, the possibility of another showdown – apart from the one in women’s 400m hurdles – between Sydney MacLaughlin-Levrone and Femke Bol appears on the horizon, whereas Ireland will try to build on their recent form. On the men’s side, while the USA is on the lookout for their 19th title, Belgium will chase its first Olympic medal. In the 4x400 mixed race, European champion Ireland will try to stun the favourites like the USA and the Netherlands.
THE DEFENDERS
4x100 W: Jamaica
4x100 M: Italy
4x400 W: USA
4x400 M: USA
4x400 X: Poland
SEASON LEADERS – SINCE LAST GAMES
4x100 W
2022: USA, 41.14
2023: USA, 41.03
2024: GBR, 41.55
4x100 M
2022: CAN, 37.48
2023: USA, 37.38
2024: USA, 37.40
4x400 W
2022: USA, 3:17.79
2023: NED, 3:20.72
2024: USA, 3:21.70
4x400 M
2022: USA, 2:56.17
2023: USA, 2:57.31
2024: BOT, 2:59.11
4x400 X
2022: DOM, 3:09.82
2023: USA, 3:08.80
2024: IRL, 3:09.92
THE RECORDS
4x100 W
WR: USA, 40.82 – 2012
OR: USA, 40.82 – 2012
Euro: GDR, 41.37 – 1985
Africa: CIV, 41.90 – 2023
Asia: CHN, 42.23 – 1997
NACAC: USA, 40.82 – 2012
Oceania: AUS, 42.48 – 2024
South America: BRA, 42.29 – 2013
4x100 M
WR: JAM, 36.84 – 2012
OR: JAM, 36.84 – 2012
Euro: GBR, 37.36 – 2019
Africa: RSA, 37.65 – 2019
Asia: JPN, 37.43 – 2019
NACAC: JAM, 36.84 – 2012
Oceania: AUS, 38.17 – 1995
South America: BRA, 37.72 – 2019
4x400 W
WR: URS, 3:15.17 – 1988
OR: URS, 3:15.17 – 1988
Euro: URS, 3:15.17 – 1988
Africa: NGR, 3:21.04 – 1996
Asia: CHN, 3:24.28 – 1993
NACAC: USA, 3:15.51 – 1988
Oceania: AUS, 3:23.81 – 2000
South America: BRA, 3:26.68 – 2011
4x400 M
WR: USA, 2:54.29 – 1993
OR: USA, 2:55.39 – 2008
Euro: GBR, 2:56.60 – 1996
Africa: BOT, 2:57.27 – 2021
Asia: IND, 2:59.05 – 2023
NACAC: USA, 2:54.29 – 1993
Oceania: AUS, 2:59.70 – 1984
South America: BRA, 2:58.56 – 1999
4x400 X
WR: USA, 3:08.80 – 2023
OR: POL, 3:09.87 – 2021
Euro: POL, 3:09.87 – 2021
Africa: KEN, 3:11.88 – 2024
Asia: BRN, 3:11.82 – 2019
NACAC: USA, 3:08.80 – 2023
Oceania: AUS, 3:17.00 – 2021
South America: COL, 3:14.48 – 2024
THE RACE
OLYMPIC DOUBLES (MEN + WOMEN)
4x100
1992 – USA
1984 – USA
1968 – USA
1952 – USA
1936 – USA
1932 – USA
4x400
2021 – USA
2016 – USA
2008 – USA
2004 – USA
1996 – USA
1984 – USA
1980 – URS
TITLE DEFENCES
4x100 W
USA, 2012-16
USA, 1984-96
GDR, 1976-80
USA, 1932-36
4x100 M
JAM, 2012-16
USA, 1964-76
USA, 1920-56
4x400 W
USA, 1996-2021
GDR, 1972-76
4x400 M
USA, 2016-21
USA, 2004-08
USA, 1984-92
USA, 1956-68
USA, 1924-32
CLOSEST FINISHES
4x100 W: 1952, USA – GER 0.04 seconds
1976, GDR – GER 0.04 seconds
4x100 M: GBR – USA 0.01 seconds
4x400 W: 1996 USA – NGR 0.13 seconds
4x400 M: 2000 NGR – JAM 0.10 seconds
BIGGEST GAPS AT THE FINISH
4x100 W: 1984, USA – CAN 1.12 seconds
4x100 M: 1936, USA – ITA 1.3 seconds
4x400 W: 2012 USA – JAM 4.08 seconds
4x400 M: 2004 USA – AUS 4.69 seconds
> Ireland, having won medals in women’s and mixed races at the European Championships, is looking for its first ever relay podium at the Olympic Games
> Belgium have only won a 4x100 gold in Beijing 2008, and the men’s 4x400 team is chasing the country’s second ever Olympic relay medal.
> The only time U.S. women lost a 4x400 gold at the Olympics after the end of the Cold War was in 1992 when Unified Team won the race.
> The only still existing country besides the USA to have defended a relay Olympic title is Jamaica, as its men obtain back to back 4x100 golds from 2012 and 2016.
