SAINT-DENIS, France — Disqualified. The Americans’ medal drought continues in the men’s 4x100m relay.
A bad exchange between Christian Coleman and Kenny Bednarek ruined any chance of a medal, leaving the United States off the podium for the fifth consecutive time at the Olympics. Coleman hit Bednarek from behind during their exchange. Bednarek, the 200 silver medalist on Thursday, then took off after coming to a complete stop.
Canada, thanks to a quick final leg by Andre De Grasse, won gold. South Africa silver. Great Britain bronze.
Kyree King, the third American runner, did his best to close the gap after the baton error. And 100-meter silver medalist Fred Kerley ran a superb 8.79-second relay. But that only put the U.S. in seventh place. That’s how far behind they found themselves after that first exchange.
Anyway, it didn’t matter. After review, the United States was disqualified because the Coleman-Bednarek exchange took place outside the exchange zone.
Aerial view of the finish. (Photo: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
The United States has not won an Olympic medal in the men’s 4x100m relay since 2004, when Shawn Crawford, Justin Gatlin, Coby Miller and Maurice Greene won silver in Athens. Despite the deepest talent pool and Jamaica’s elimination, the Olympic struggles continued.
It all started with Noah Lyles, who contracted COVID-19. He was the anchor at the 2023 world championships, when Lyles, Kerley, Coleman and Brandon Carnes beat Italy and Jamaica. And with the Americans’ success in the 100 and 200 meters, winning two medals in each, they felt assured of a podium finish.
But with the United States in the men’s 4x100m relay, things haven’t gone well in 20 years. And for Canada, which won silver in Tokyo, it’s the country’s first gold in the race since 1996 in Atlanta.
This story will be updated.
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(Photo: Jewel Samad / AFP via Getty Images)
