by Sha’Carri Richardson has landed her first Olympic gold medal after a thunderous anchor leg in the women’s 4×100 relay on Friday.
The Americans – Richardson, Gabby Thomas, Melissa Jefferson and Twanisha Terry – braved a wet track in rainy conditions to win the team’s 12th Olympic medal in the event. They did so in a season-best time of 41.78 seconds.
Thomas ran the third stage and won his second gold medal of the Games. His first gold was at 200 meters Tuesday.
When Thomas handed over to Richardson, the United States was in third place.
Richardson had to catch up with Britain’s Daryll Neita and Germany’s Rebekka Haase, and when she did, she gave a look to her right – and back – that said “you’re not going to catch me”.
She sprinted eight more steps down the track and, on the ninth, lifted her left leg high and stomped it across the finish line, then let out a scream.
It marked a sweet end to the Olympics for Richardson, who came into the Olympics as a favorite but surprisingly fallen to Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia in the 100 meter race.
Britain and Germany rank second and third respectively.
Americans disqualified from 4×100 relay
As the women celebrated their gold medal, the U.S. men’s team extended its medal drought to 20 years in the Olympic 4×100 relay. It was disqualified for illegal passing after Christan Coleman collided with teammate Kenny Bednarek during the exchange between the first and second legs.
André De Grasse made a point of capping a disappointing Olympics by leading Canada to gold in 37.50 seconds. It was De Grasse’s first medal in Paris, but his seventh overall. South Africa finished second and Great Britain third.
Before the race, even without Noah Lyles, who was out due to Covid, America seemed doomed to fail. They have a knack for it. The only time the United States has won a medal in the last two decades was in 2012, but it was stripped for doping violations.
