With the Paris Olympics now in hindsight, everyone- from the fans to the athletes- seems to agree that it’s about time we saw some changes in the Games. And with the revamped format being fast, unpredictable, and strategy-heavy, it’s exactly what the sport’s been missing. But can it live up to the hype at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum? 

It seems like the IOC is following in World Athletics’ footsteps. Why, you may ask? Well, World Athletics isn’t wasting time, as it has already introduced the mixed 4x100m relay for the 2025 World Relays in Guangzhou—and it’s also set to make waves at next year’s first-ever Ultimate Championships in Budapest. Yep, it’s happening, and the sprint world is about to get a serious remix, and fans are here for it. Wait, but what’s new for the Olympics?

As per the Athletic Weekly’s X post, “Mixed 4x100m relay to be a part of LA 2028 Olympics. It will provide countries an extra opportunity for a gold medal in athletics.” At the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, the mixed 4×100-meter relay will make its Olympic debut, with male and female athletes on one track. 

Here’s where it gets interesting. World Athletics has confirmed the mixed 4x100m will start with two women, followed by two men—but that order’s not set in stone. They’ll test it out at the upcoming World Relays and tweak it if needed. Even cooler? Official records for the event will start counting from January 1, 2026.

Quick rewind to Paris: the USA dominated the women’s 4x100m, with Great Britain and Germany close behind. In the men’s final, Canada sprinted to gold, while South Africa and Great Britain rounded out the podium. Now, with the mixed format on deck, fans are bracing for a whole new kind of race.

Fans react as mixed 4x100m relay joins Olympics in 2028

“You mean another gold for the USA—unless they drop the baton.” That’s how one fan summed up the mood after the mixed 4x100m relay was confirmed for the 2028 LA Olympics. Well, history is hard to forget like that it seems as the fan has not forgotten the infamous botched baton handoff between Christian Coleman and Kenny Bednarek. The baton was dropped during the second exchange, which resulted in a significant delay and an eventual disqualification. To top that, the US also has a history of baton problems in the 4×100 relay, with the number going as high as 11 since 1995 as per USA Today.

“Major change coming in. Exciting for the sport,” another fan added. And they’re not wrong. This move by World Athletics and the IOC isn’t just for show—it’s designed to inject speed, unpredictability, and fresh energy into the track scene. Unlike the longer mixed 4x400m introduced in Tokyo, this one’s all about explosive starts and split-second baton work. However, the inclusion of this in the Tokyo Olympics was the first time a mixed-gender relay was included in Olympic athletics. And the winner was Poland with a time of 3:09.87.

Moving on, the current lineup? Woman-woman-man-man. But that’s still in testing. “IOC making some big changes. Let’s see how it pans out,” one viewer posted, referring to the trial run set for the 2025 World Relays in Guangzhou. Beyond the mixed relay introduced in track and field, it also extends to golf, rowing, archery, and table tennis. It will also have Olympic debuts of the 50 m breaststroke, backstroke, and butterfly offering for both men and women. 

Another fan wrote, “More sprinting. Surprising to see if anyone could challenge USA.” And it’s a fair question. The U.S. may lead the charge, but countries like Jamaica, Great Britain, and South Africa have the firepower to shake up the podium—especially in a race that demands both raw speed and razor-sharp exchanges. 

“Big news for the sport. Other sports got some love too,” added another fan. Track and field isn’t the only one evolving. With the IOC also adding cricket, flag football, and lacrosse, LA 2028 is shaping up to be a fresh, fan-first Games. Even Boxing is back and will be under the new governance of World Boxing to ensure it stays fair and legitimate. Still, all eyes are on this new sprint showdown—and how it could redefine relay racing.