10. Team USA Women Slay 4x100m Relay; U.S. Men Add Another DQ
The U.S. women's 4x100m relay almost didn't get to run in the Olympic final.
Allyson Felix was impeded by a Brazilian athlete in the prelims, which caused her and English Gardner's exchange to end with a dropped baton. After finishing their race in over 1:00, the U.S. successfully protested the outcome, and they were granted a time trial a few hours later. They qualified. And then they won the final in 41.01--the second-fastest time in history.
Did the U.S. men really surprise anyone with their disqualification?
Mike Rodgers, Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay and Trayvon Bromell, the exact same team (switch Rodgers and Bromell's legs) from 2015, which resulted in another DQ in the finals at the world championships, completed their bronze-medal victory lap before they found out they were disqualified for a botched hand-off between Rodgers and Gatlin.
| Year | Meet | Team USA's Exchanges |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Olympics (Rio) | FAIL (Rodgers -> Gatlin) |
| 2015 | World Championships (Beijing) | FAIL (Gay -> Rodgers) |
| 2015 | World Relays (Bahamas) | GOOD |
| 2014 | World Relays (Bahamas) | FAIL (Kimmons -> Salaam) |
| 2013 | World Championships (Moscow) | FAIL (Salaam -> Gatlin) |
| 2012 | Olympics (London) | FAIL (Doping) |
| 2011 | World Championships (Daegu) | FAIL (Patton -> Dix) |
| 2009 | World Championships (Berlin) | FAIL (Crawford -> Patton) |
| 2008 | Olympics (Beijing) | FAIL (Patton -> Gay) |
Maybe Team USA's relay at next summer's London world championships will omit Rodgers, Gatlin and Gay, who have been involved in numerous relay blunders since 2008.