For decades, the 4x100m relay rivalry between the United States and Jamaica has defined the sprinting world. There was a time when names like Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce reigned supreme in the relays. Now, as Bolt and Fraser-Pryce passed the baton to the next generation of Jamaican sprinters, Team USA also witnessed a surge in speed with Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson controlling the anchor leg. And after the 2025 Tokyo World Championships, the USA finally surpassed Jamaica. 

As compared to Jamaica’s three double sweeps (men and women team winning in the same year) 4x100m relay world titles, Team USA now has four relay world titles. Interestingly, for the Jamaicans, the double relay sweeps came in shorter time frames starting from 2009, followed by 2013, and then 2015. However, for the States, the relay sweeps came in extended periods. The first 4x100m world title for both and men and women side for the US arrived in 1987. The second time, when the US stood atop the podium (for both men and women 4x 100m relays in same year) was in the year 2007. Then, Team USA was able to clinch back-to-back victories for their third and fourth double sweep titles in 2023, and 2025, respectively.

In the recently concluded Tokyo World Athletics Championships, Sha’Carri Richardson took charge as the anchor for the women’s relay. With a seamless final exchange from Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, Richardson blazed down the straight, clocking 41.75 seconds. She held off Jonielle Smith, who crossed the finish line just 0.05 seconds later. This was a mirror of what happened in 2023, where Richardson swept the gold while Shericka Jackson was left with silver for her team. 

Similarly, during men’s relay in Tokyo, Noah Lyles led the men’s 4x100m squad to a mirror-image triumph. Alongside Christian Coleman, Kenny Bednarek, and Courtney Lindsay, ‘Nojo18’ brought anchor-leg magic, storming home in 37.29 seconds. Along similar lines, in 2023, Lyles managed to clock in at 37.38 seconds, winning the gold, while Jamaican athletes were left with the bronze with a time of 37.76 seconds. These two double sweeps ensured that Team USA amassed four double sweeps in 4x100m relays in the World Championships. This left Jamaica with only three. 

After a decade of baton mishaps and heartbreaks, Team USA executed each exchange with surgical precision, turning former weakness into a defining strength. However, the 4x400m relay had a different story to tell. 

Team USA yet to mirror the same stance in the 4x400m relays!

The men’s 4x400m relay at the 2025 World Championships delivered one of the closest finishes in recent history. Botswana made history by becoming the first African nation to win gold in the event, clocking 2:57.76. Lee Bhekempilo Eppie, Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori, and Buang Collen Kebinatshipi were truly impressive in their strides. Meanwhile, Team USA followed just 0.07 seconds behind, narrowly holding off South Africa, who settled for bronze on a photo finish. 

But in the women’s 4x400m, Team USA reaffirmed its dominance with a commanding performance. Anchored by Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the quartet stormed to victory in 3:16.61. Following closely, Jamaica finished second in 3:19.25. And the Netherlands took the bronze. The result underscored America’s unmatched depth in the event and McLaughlin-Levrone’s continued mastery on the final lap.

More so, the first and only time when both Team USA men and women’s team won the 4x400m relay World Titles in the same year, was 1993 at World Athletics Championships in Stuttgart. While men’s team clocked 2.54.29, women’s team clocked 3.16.71

What do you think of the American Team’s stance in 4x400m relays? Can Team USA dominate each relay race in the upcoming season?