Athletics at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Mixed 4 × 400 metres relay

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Mixed 4 × 400 metres relay
at the Games of the XXXII Olympiad
Olympic Athletics.png
Olympic Athletics
Venue Japan National Stadium
Dates30 July 2021 (round 1)
31 July 2021 (final)
Competitors76 from 15 nations
Winning time3:09.87
Medalists
Gold medal icon.svg Karol Zalewski
Natalia Kaczmarek
Justyna Święty-Ersetic
Kajetan Duszyński
Dariusz Kowaluk*
Iga Baumgart-Witan*
Małgorzata Hołub-Kowalik*
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland
Silver medal icon.svg Lidio Andrés Feliz
Marileidy Paulino
Anabel Medina
Alexander Ogando
Luguelín Santos*
Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic
Bronze medal icon.svg Trevor Stewart
Kendall Ellis
Kaylin Whitney
Vernon Norwood
Elija Godwin*
Lynna Irby*
Taylor Manson*
Bryce Deadmon*
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
2024  
Official Video Highlights TV-icon-2.svg
Official Video Highlights

The mixed 4 × 400 metres relay event at the 2020 Summer Olympics took place on 30 and 31 July 2021 at the Japan National Stadium. [1] There were 16 competing relay teams, with each team having 4 members (2 men and 2 women). [2] It was the first mixed-gender relay in athletics held at the Olympic Games, as part of a larger focus on gender equality by the International Olympic Committee. [3]

Summary

After finishing first and second in their heat, USA and Dominican Republic teams were initially disqualified for an alleged baton changeover violation. Both teams appealed and the decision was reversed. This meant that German and Spanish teams, that qualified after the disqualifications, did not qualify to the final—they protested, and it was decided that Germany could start the final as ninth team. The Dutch and Belgian teams protested against the reinstatements—both protests were rejected by the CAS. [4] [5]

In the final, the Netherlands' Liemarvin Bonevacia took the lead going in to the first handoff, with Karol Zalewski (Poland), Trevor Stewart (USA) and Dylan Borlée (Belgium) in contention. Through the third turn, Marileidy Paulino pulled Dominican Republic past all the teams, squeezing past the Netherlands' Lieke Klaver after the break to take the lead. Kendall Ellis powered through the fourth turn passing Poland's Natalia Kaczmarek and Klaver chasing after Paulino. Down the home stretch, Ellis tied up and Kaczmarek ran past. Anabel Medina left the pass with almost a 3-second Dominican lead. Netherlands went with their star 400 hurdler Femke Bol, along with Justyna Święty-Ersetic for Poland and Kaylin Whitney for USA separating as a 3-person pack in chase of Medina. Bol almost made it, pulling the pack to just behind Medina at the handoff, the teams leaving the zone with Alexander Ogando (DOM), Ramsey Angela (NED), Kajetan Duszyński (POL) and Vernon Norwood (USA) in a row. Halfway through the lap, Angela passed Ogando, then Duszyński gained through the final turn with Norwood in tow. Coming off the turn, Duszyński went past Angela into the lead. With 30 metres to go, the three chasers were in a row across the track, but Norwood had the momentum to move into second place. Duszyński had too much of a lead, crossing the finish line with his arms outstretched. Unable to catch Duszyński, Norwood relaxed and glided across the line, but Ogando continued to chase and got silver for the Dominican Republic. [6] [7]

Background

This was the first appearance of the event, added along with mixed team events in multiple sports for the 2020 Games. The mixed relay was first introduced at the 2017 IAAF World Relays. It was added to the World Championship programme at the 2019 World Athletics Championships. [8]

Qualification

A National Olympic Committee (NOC) could qualify a relay team of 4 athletes in one of three ways. A total of 16 NOCs qualified. [2] [9]

The qualifying period was originally from 1 May 2019 to 29 June 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the period was suspended from 6 April 2020 to 30 November 2020, with the end date extended to 29 June 2021. The qualifying time standards could be obtained in various meets during the given period that have the approval of the IAAF. Both indoor and outdoor meets are eligible. The most recent Area Championships may be counted in the ranking, even if not during the qualifying period. [2] [10]

Competition format

The event used the two-round format introduced for other relay events in 2012. [11]

Each team consists of two men and two women. The team members can run in any order. [8]

Records

Prior to this competition, the existing world, Olympic, and area records are as follows.

World recordFlag of the United States.svg  Wilbert London, Allyson Felix, Courtney Okolo, Michael Cherry  (USA)3:09.34 Doha, Qatar 29 September 2019
Olympic recordnew event
AreaTime(s)AthleteNation
Africa ( records )3:16.90Flag of Kenya.svg Kenya
Asia ( records )3:11.82Flag of Bahrain.svg Bahrain
Europe ( records )3:12.27Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain
North, Central America
and Caribbean
( records )
3:09.34 WR Flag of the United States.svg United States
Oceania ( records )3:18.55Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia
South America ( records )3:16.12Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil

Schedule

All times are Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)

The mixed 4 × 400 metres relay took place over two consecutive days. [1]

DateTimeRound
Friday, 30 July 202120:00Round 1
Saturday, 31 July 202121:35Final

Results

Heats

Qualification Rules: First 3 in each heat (Q) and the next 2 fastest (q) advance to the Final

Heat 1

RankLaneNationCompetitorsReactionTimeNotes
13Flag of the United States.svg  United States Elija Godwin, Lynna Irby, Taylor Manson, Bryce Deadmon 0.1823:11.39 Q, SB
27Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic Lidio Andrés Feliz, Marileidy Paulino, Anabel Medina, Luguelín Santos 0.2533:12.74 Q, NR
32Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Alexander Doom, Imke Vervaet, Camille Laus, Jonathan Borlée 0.1773:12.75 Q, NR
45Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Cillin Greene, Phil Healy, Sophie Becker, Christopher O'Donnell 0.1373:12.88 q, NR
54Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Marvin Schlegel, Corinna Schwab, Ruth Spelmeyer, Manuel Sanders 0.1893:12.94 qJ, NR
66Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Samuel García, Laura Bueno, Aauri Bokesa, Bernat Erta 0.1763:13.29 NR
78Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria Ifeanyi Emmanuel Ojeli, Imaobong Nse Uko, Samson Oghenewegba Nathaniel,
Patience Okon George
0.1963:13.60 AR

Heat 2

RankLaneNationCompetitorsReactionTimeNotes
12Flag of Poland.svg  Poland Dariusz Kowaluk, Iga Baumgart-Witan, Małgorzata Hołub-Kowalik, Kajetan Duszyński 0.1563:10.44 Q, OR, AR
29Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Jochem Dobber, Lieke Klaver, Lisanne de Witte, Ramsey Angela 0.1783:10.69 Q, NR
35Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica Sean Bailey, Junelle Bromfield, Stacey-Ann Williams, Karayme Bartley 0.1803:11.76 Q, NR
46Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Cameron Chalmers, Zoey Clark, Emily Diamond, Lee Thompson 0.1893:11.95 q, NR
57Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Edoardo Scotti, Alice Mangione, Rebecca Borga, Vladimir Aceti 0.1843:13.51 NR
64Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine Mykyta Barabanov, Kateryna Klymiuk, Alina Lohvynenko, Oleksandr Pohorilko 0.1573:14.21
78Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil Pedro Luiz de Oliveira, Tiffani Marinho, Tábata de Carvalho, Anderson Henriques 0.1853:15.89 AR
83Flag of India.svg  India Muhammed Anas, Revathi Veeramani, Subha Venkatesan, Arokia Rajiv 0.1583:19.93 SB

Final

RankLaneNationCompetitorsReactionTimeNotes
Gold medal icon.svg5Flag of Poland.svg  Poland Karol Zalewski, Natalia Kaczmarek, Justyna Święty-Ersetic, Kajetan Duszyński 0.1573:09.87 OR AR
Silver medal icon.svg6Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic Lidio Andrés Feliz, Marileidy Paulino, Anabel Medina, Alexander Ogando 0.1843:10.21 NR
Bronze medal icon.svg4Flag of the United States.svg  United States Trevor Stewart, Kendall Ellis, Kaylin Whitney, Vernon Norwood 0.1673:10.22 SB
47Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Liemarvin Bonevacia, Lieke Klaver, Femke Bol, Ramsey Angela 0.2093:10.36 NR
58Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Dylan Borlée, Imke Vervaet, Camille Laus, Kevin Borlée 0.1653:11.51 NR
62Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Nicklas Baker, Nicole Yeargin, Emily Diamond, Cameron Chalmers 0.1693:12.07
79Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica Sean Bailey, Stacey-Ann Williams, Tovea Jenkins, Karayme Bartley 0.2083:14.95
81Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Cillin Greene, Phil Healy, Sophie Becker, Christopher O'Donnell 0.1403:15.04
3Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Marvin Schlegel, Corinna Schwab, Nadine Gonska, Manuel Sanders 0.182 DQ TR 24.6.3

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