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RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 20: Allyson Felix of the United States reacts after winning gold during the Women’s 4 x 400 meter Relay on Day 15 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 20, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 20: Allyson Felix of the United States reacts after winning gold during the Women’s 4 x 400 meter Relay on Day 15 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 20, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
It was earlier reported that Team USA was disqualified from the 4x400m mixed relay race in the semi-final heats and would not be allowed to compete in the final as a result, inspite of qualifying.?
The reason for this was an illegal handoff involving Lynna Irby, with the baton exchange taking place outside the marked zone. In the replay, the judges observed the entire course of events and marked the team as DQ when the scoring came out.?
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In the debut of the mixed 4x400m relay in the #Olympics, #TeamUSA is showing as DQ'd in the results.#Tokyo2020 #Athletics pic.twitter.com/TtI5GBk2Bv
— TrackTown USA (@TrackTownUSA) July 30, 2021
The Americans were visibly shocked and according to a report from David Woods of Indy Star Sports, the team appealed against the decision. It turns out that the appeal may have just been successful after all.
Team USA revealed earlier today through a post on Twitter that the mixed relay squad had been reinstated and would be competing in the finals after all. Woods reported that the athletes had appealed against the official, who apparently placed Irby in the wrong lane.?
BREAKING NEWS: The U.S. 4x400M Mixed Relay team has been reinstated and will compete in Saturday's final.
— USATF (@usatf) July 30, 2021
Allyson Felix has the chance of earning a seventh Olympic gold
The team consisting of Elija Godwin, Lynna Irby, Taylor Manson, and Bryce Deadmon, have managed to scrape through this one and will be replaced by a stronger contingent in the finals. Allyson Felix will compete in the finals in an attempt to win her seventh Olympic gold, becoming the most decorated American female athlete in Olympic history.?
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RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 20: Allyson Felix of the United States reacts after winning gold during the Women’s 4 x 400 meter Relay on Day 15 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 20, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)
Team USA fins itself in competition with the Dominican Republic, Belgium, Poland, Netherlands, and Jamaica. The Dominican Republic had also been disqualified previously but had the decision overturned like the USA. They placed second in the race behind the Stars and Stripes.?
The overturned decision means that Ireland and Germany, who had previously qualified as a result of the disqualification, will not be competing in the finals. USA won the semifinal heat and has re-emerged as a favourite to win Olympic gold.?
The team won the 4x400m mixed relay in the 2019 World Championships in Doha and will get to opportunity to repeat their success at the event?s debut appearance in the Olympics. Athletes must be careful of every small rule as even the slightest error can cost the team the entire race.?
