Why was Team USA's men's 4x100m relay team disqualified at Paris Olympics 2024? All about the incident explored

By Anirudh

Modified Aug 09, 2024 18:57 GMT

The United States men's 4x100m relay team was disqualified at the 2024 Paris Olympics because of a fumbled baton pass.

In the men's 4x100m relay final at the Stade de France on Friday (August 9), Canada raced ahead to clinch gold with a time of 37.50 seconds. Former Olympic 200m gold medallist Andre de Grasse anchored the team well, which included the likes of Aaron Brown, Jerome Blake, and Brendon Rodney.

South Africa set an African record of 37.57 seconds and took home the silver, while Great Britain completed the podium after clocking 37.61 seconds.

The United States team of Christian Coleman, Kenneth Bednarek, Kyree King, and Fred Kerley finished in seventh position but were later disqualified because a handoff happened out of the zone (TR 24.7)

Olympic rule TR 24.7 states that passing the baton outside the takeover zone results in disqualification.

The final result of 4x100m men's relay. Source: Olympics/screenshot

The Americans have now failed to win an Olympic medal in the men’s 4x100m relay since 2004. They entered Paris as the title favorites after clinching gold in the event at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest last year. However, they fumbled when it mattered and their Olympic drought has now been extended by four more years.

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Women shine where men stumble: Sha'Carri Richardson and Co. clinch 4x100m gold at Paris Olympics

USA women's 4 × 100 Metres Relay - Source: Getty

While the American men's 4x100 meters team was left wondering what if after their final, the women dazzled their way to the top of the podium earlier on Friday.

Sha'Carri Richardson, Gabby Thomas, Melissa Jefferson and Twanisha Terry hardly put a step wrong on the wet track. With a season-best time of 41.78 seconds, they took home the gold in emphatic fashion, bettering their silver from Tokyo and making it their 12th Olympic medal in the event.

The win was largely built on Thomas, who ran a good third leg, and Richardson, who anchored the team to perfection. With it, the pair have now bagged two medals in Paris.

Thomas won the women's 200 meters on Tuesday while Richardson bagged the silver in the women's 100 meters.

Great Britain's Dina Asher-Smith, Imani Lansiquot, Amy Hunt, and Daryll Neita, clocked 41.85 seconds and won silver. At the same time, Germany's Alexandra Burghardt, Lisa Mayer, Gina Lueckenkemper and Rebekka Haase took the bronze with a 41.97-second effort.