Sprint Relays at the Olympics
The 4 x 100m and 4 x 400m for both men and women are the two relay races that are traditionally conducted as part of the track and field events during the Olympics. A new addition to the athletics program is the 4x400m mixed relay, first run in 2021.
Usain bolt waiting to receive the relay baton 4 x 100m event
The men's event has been a part of the games since 1912 and the women's event was added in 1928. The men's relay was dominated by the United States up until 2000 winning the gold medal 15 out of 23 times. The event of late has been taken over by Jamaica that has won the gold medal in 2008 and 2012 Olympics. The Jamaicans also hold the Olympic record at 40.82 seconds, which is also the current world record, set at 2012 London Games.
The United States women have also been dominant in this event and have won the gold medal 10 out of 20 times it has been held. The Olympic record of 40.82 seconds, which is also the current world record, was set by the United States at the 2012 London Games.
4 x 400m event
The men's event has been a part of the games since 1912 and the women's event was added in 1972. The United States men have consistently dominated the event winning the gold medal in 16 out of 23 Olympics, and currently hold the Olympic record of 2:55.39 set at 2008 Beijing Games.
The women's Olympic record of 3:15.17, which is also the current world record, was set by ex-Soviet Union at 1988 Seoul Games.
Mixed 4 x 400m Mixed Relay
The mixed 4x400m relay made its debut on the Olympic program in 2021 in Tokyo. This event comprises teams of two women and two men. In Toyo, each team could decide for their athletes to run in any order, but the rules have ben changed since then so that team members have to run in the order man-woman-man-woman.
Related Pages
- Sprint races at the Olympics
- More about the History of the Olympic 100m
- About the discontinued Medley Relay and 5000m team race.
- World Athletics Relays — an international biennial track and field event held by World Athletics where teams from around the world compete in relay races.
- About Track and Field at the Olympics
- The Greatest T&F Athletes at the Olympics.
- About the Olympic Torch Relay
- List of Olympic Sports
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