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Andre de Grasse anchored Canada to victory in the Olympic men’s 4x100m relay in Paris yesterday.
The Canadian quartet, also comprising Aaron Brown, Jerome Blake and Brendon Rodney, clocked 37.50 seconds for gold.
South Africa took silver in an African record of 37.57sec and Britain bronze (37.61).
Defending champions Italy, featuring 2021 100m champion Marcell Jacobs on the second leg, finished fourth in 37.68sec.
The United States, missing Covid-hit 100m champion Noah Lyles, initially crossed the line in seventh in 37.89, but were later disqualified.
Christian Coleman botched the first baton handover with Kenny Bednarek, the latter coming to an almost total standstill.
Kyree King and Fred Kerley could do nothing to drag the quartet back into the running.
It continues the sprint powerhouse’s dismal Olympic run.
The last time the US men medalled was with a silver at the 2004 Athens Games.
There was a botched handoff in the heats of the 2021 Tokyo Games, while the US were disqualified at the 2016 Rio Games and failed to medal in London in 2012 whilst also coming a cropper in the semi-finals in Beijing in 2008.
Meanwhile, Sha’Carri Richardson conjured a dazzling last leg to power the United States to victory in the Olympic women’s 4x100m relay yesterday.
Richardson turned on the afterburners to overhaul Britain, Germany and France in the home straight as the US quartet took gold in 41.78sec.
Britain took silver in 41.85sec while Germany finished with bronze after crossing in 41.97sec, just edging out host nation France.
The victory represented a redemption of sorts for Richardson, who had been heavily favoured to win the individual 100m crown earlier in the Games only to be upset by St. Lucia’s Julien Alfred.
In driving rain at the Stade de France, the US had looked to be struggling to get into the medal positions after Melissa Jefferson, Twanisha Terry and 200m gold medallist Gabby Thomas combined to leave Richardson in fourth place as she collected the baton on the last leg.
But the fiery 24-year-old Texan would not be denied, accelerating through the gears to sweep past Britain’s Darryl Neita, Germany’s Rebekka Haase and France’s Chloe Galet.
Richardson could even afford a cheeky glance to her right as she passed her rivals before taking the tape. – SuperSport.
Online Reporter