0
0
.
.
USA and Botswana stormed to the second- and third-fastest men’s 4x400m performances of all time to take respective gold and silver at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on Saturday (10).
USA ran an Olympic record of 2:54.43 to take the title, just a tenth of a second ahead of Botswana in an African record, as they narrowly missed the world record of 2:54.29 set by USA in Stuttgart in 1993.
There was also an area record for Great Britain & Northern Ireland as they clocked 2:55.83 to improve the European record and claim bronze.
USA secured a 19th Olympic title in the event as 400m hurdles champion Rai Benjamin brought the baton home in record time, while the Botswana team, anchored by 200m champion Letsile Tebogo with a 43.04 split, secured their nation’s fourth ever Olympic medal.
Following his run for the US team in the heats, 16-year-old Quincy Wilson became the youngest ever men’s Olympic gold medallist in athletics.
USA, Botswana and Great Britain were pretty evenly matched after the first leg, as Christopher Bailey handed over to Vernon Norwood, Bayapo Ndori – after a 44.30 split – passed the baton to Busang Collen Kebinatshipi, and Matthew Hudson-Smith took over from Alex Haydock-Wilson.
SOURCE: WORLD ATHLETICS
