US women, led by McLaughlin-Levrone and Thomas, win 4×400 meter relay

SAINT-DENIS, France — The track and field event at the Paris Games ended with the United States crossing the finish line, far ahead of its opponent, in a display of superiority.

Just like most of the week.

The U.S. women’s 4×400-meter relay team, the final track event of the epic Olympic Games, won the gold medal with a time of 3:15.27. Shamier Little, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Gabby Thomas and Alexis Holmes delivered a dominant performance that illustrates the dominance of American track and field at the 33rd Olympiad.

Not surprisingly, McLaughlin-Levrone turned the race around with a blazing lap of 47.71 seconds. The next fastest leg — of anyone — was Femke Bol of the Netherlands at 48.62.

Team USA DOMINATES the women’s 4x400m final, winning their EIGHTH straight gold medal! 🇺🇸 #Olympic Games in Paris

📺 NBC & Pauw photo.twitter.com/TqHh7HEehu

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 10, 2024

Shamier-Little ran the opening race in 49.98 seconds, the only time under 50 seconds in the opening race. She was the first to pass the baton to McLaughlin-Levrone. It was over. And any idea that it wasn’t was dispelled by Thomas, who extended the American’s lead.

Holmes had an easy anchor as the US won by four seconds, but she made for a fitting finale.

The US won 34 medals in track and field, 14 of them gold. It doubled its gold medal tally from the Tokyo Games when it took home a total of 26 medals.

Thomas won her third gold medal of the Games: one in the 200-meter hurdles and two as the third leg of both relays. McLaughlin-Levrone won her second gold medal, joining Thomas and Rai Benjamin as the Americans in track and field with multiple gold medals.

This is McLaughlin-Levrone’s fourth gold medal. She also won the 400-meter hurdles and the 4×400 relay in Tokyo.

The Netherlands came second with a time of 3:19.50. Great Britain came third with 3:19.72.

(Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images)