Usain Bolt completed his ‘triple-treble’ with a third Olympic gold medal in the 4x100m and ninth gold medal overall as Jamaica won the relay final at the Rio Olympic Games. There was also a huge upset as USA only finished third behind Japan who beat them to the finish line by 0.02 seconds – only to be disqualified to give fourth-placed Canada the bronze medal.
USA started in Lane 3 while Jamaica were in Lane 4. Justin Gatlin ran the second leg for the Americans while Bolt ran the anchor leg for the Jamaicans who also had the former fastest man in the world, 33-year-old Asafa Powell, for the final.
Powell started well for Jamaica and the handover to Yohan Blake was not the best. But Blake, who had disappointed in the 100m and 200m, ran a strong second leg and did not allow Gatlin to gain an advantage. By the time the baton was handed over to Nickel Ashmeade, the race was tight with Jamaica, USA and Japan competing for spots on the podium.
But once Ahsmeade handed the baton over to Bolt, there was only one clear winner. The 100m and 200m gold medallist stormed into the lead and left everyone behind in the final leg as Jamaica finished first with a time of 37.27 seconds while Canada came in fourth in 37.64 seconds.
Surprisingly, it was Japan who finished second with a time of 37.60 seconds, ahead of USA who finished third in 37.62 seconds. But they were in for a surprise when it came to light that USA had been disqualified as were Trinidad and Tobago. The disqualification saw Canada moved up to third and, as a result, a third medal for Andre De Grasse to add to his 100m bronze and 200m silver medals.
USA had even taken a lap of honour before they saw the final list and realised that they had been disqualified. Replays showed that the exchange between Tyson Gay and Trayvon Bromell had been made before they entered the exchange zone.
| # | Country | Reaction Time (s) | Time (s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jamaica | 0.15 | 37.27 |
| 2 | Japan | 0.144 | 37.60 |
| 3 | Canada | 0.129 | 37.64 |
| 4 | China | 0.23 | 37.90 |
| 5 | Great Britain | 0.122 | 37.98 |
| 6 | Brazil | 0.184 | 38.41 |
| 7 | Trinidad & Tobago | 0.148 | Disqualified |
| 8 | USA | 0.15 | Disqualified |
USA comfortably win Women’s 4x100m Final
After qualifying for the final with the fastest time in a time trial following their last-place finish in the heats, USA continued in that rich vein of form to storm into the lead early on. Starting in Lane 1, Tianna Bartoletta was not the fastest off the blocks but managed to reel in the entire pack ahead of her on the curve before handing it off to Allyson Felix.
On the back stretch, Felix increased USA’s lead and, this time, there was no problem with the exchange with English Gardner. It was the second exchange that went wrong when Brazil impeded their progress in the heats.
By the time Gardner handed it off to Tori Bowie, they were in the clear with Jamaica standing no chance of catching up. USA finished first with a time of 41.01 seconds to defend their Olympic crown while Shelly- Ann Fraser-Pryce saw Jamaica come home in second place with a time of 41.36 seconds. Great Britain finished third with a time of 41.77 seconds.
| # | Country | Reaction Time (s) | Time (s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | USA | 0.158 | 41.01 |
| 2 | Jamaica | 0.158 | 41.36 |
| 3 | Great Britain | 0.113 | 41.77 |
| 4 | Germany | 0.171 | 42.10 |
| 5 | Trinidad & Tobago | 0.158 | 42.12 |
| 6 | Ukraine | 0.13 | 42.36 |
| 7 | Canada | 0.144 | 43.15 |
| 8 | Nigeria | 0.153 | 43.21 |
