August 09, (THEWILL) – Canada clinched gold in the men’s Olympic 4x100m relay on Friday, capitalising on a costly error by the United States team. The Canadian quartet, led by Andre de Grasse, crossed the finish line in 37.50 seconds, securing their second Olympic title in this event since 1996.
South Africa claimed silver with an African record time of 37.57 seconds, thanks to a stellar final leg by Akani Simbine. Great Britain rounded out the podium, earning bronze with a time of 37.61 seconds. Zharnel Hughes, who ran the anchor leg for Britain, helped redeem the team after their 2021 Tokyo silver medal was revoked due to a teammate’s doping violation.
The United States, long-time favourites in this event, faced yet another setback. A botched handover between Christian Coleman and Kenny Bednarek led to their disqualification. This marks the latest in a string of disappointments for the American team, who have not won Olympic gold in the 4x100m relay since 2000.
This victory adds to Canada’s growing success in sprint events, building on their silver medal performance in Tokyo. For South Africa and Great Britain, the podium finishes represent significant achievements in a highly competitive field.
The result underscores the shifting landscape of global sprint dominance, with nations like Canada and South Africa challenging traditional powerhouses.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
