Team USA is back to it. After losing in 2012, the US team won the 4x400-meter relay, as LaShawn Merritt held off the Botswana team to win gold. The team of Arman Hall, Tony McQuaid, Gil Roberts and Merritt are Olympic champions.
Olympics 2016: Team USA wins gold in men’s 4x400m relay
LaShawn Merritt anchored the US team to a win.
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Jamaica won silver and the Bahamas won bronze.
Team USA has ruled the 4x400 at the Olympic Games. They were upset by the Bahamas in 2012, but had won six of the previous eight Olympic gold medals in the event. The Bahamas finished in third on Saturday, though.
The US team handed off in first, but the Botswana team evened the race after two legs. Roberts opened the race up, and Merritt closed things out.
The Jamaican anchor closed well to help Jamaica finish second.
Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa set the world record in the 400 in a time of 43.03, breaking Michael Johnson’s world record, but his South African team wasn’t even part of the final.
* * *
Why do Olympians bite their gold medals?
See More:
