What happens when two of the fastest women on the track stumble during a crucial Olympic relay? For Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Gabby Thomas, a split-second misstep almost cost the team everything. The pressure of the moment and an unexpected handoff error highlighted the razor-thin margins that can make or break a race. Ultimately, Team USA “went out there, and made that happen together” despite the moment of panic.

Turns out, there was a reason for the mishap – one that Gabby Thomas opened up about after she, McLaughlin-Levrone, Shamier Little, and Alexis Holmes made US history in the 4x400m relay at the Paris Olympics. Crossing the line in 3:15.27, they were just 0.10 seconds off the world record set during the 1988 Seoul Olympics by the Soviet Union. However, they did set a new American record. 

The quartet wasn’t just running; they were chasing the USA’s eighth consecutive Olympic gold. As Little burst from the blocks, she wrapped up her first leg with a split time of 49.48 seconds, handing the baton over to Mclaughlin-Levrone. At the time, the 400mH gold medalist was just 0.77 seconds ahead of the field. But by the end of her leg, with a record-breaking split time of 47.71 seconds, McLaughlin-Levrone gave Team USA the clear lead. However, that was where the mishap happened.

While passing the baton to Thomas, the exchange wasn’t ideal. And there was a moment where it felt like Thomas may fall or drop the baton. Per IAAF rules, if athletes drop the baton in the 20m exchange zone, they’ll be disqualified. So, it’s understandable why it was a heart-in-the-mouth moment for all four members. Discussing this and the experience of running the 4x400m relay alongside the best athletes in the world, Gabby Thomas told CBS Mornings, “We don’t train together, so we didn’t know what to expect.” But why don’t they train together?

Gabby Thomas graduated from the University of Texas Health Science Center at their Austin campus in May 2023. So, she’s been training there since 2019. As for Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the 400mH world record holder trains in Los Angeles. Their 4x400m final teammates Shamier Little and Alexis Holmes train in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Moreover, they have individual events to focus on, too. For Thomas, it’s the 200m; for McLaughlin-Levrone, it’s the 400m hurdles; and for Holmes, it’s the 400m. Their participation in these events was part of the reason they didn’t even compete in the heats together.

Of the quartet, Shamier Little was the only one who ran the 4x400m heats to qualify for the final. Thomas had the 4x100m relay final, Mclaughlin-Levrone had the 400m hurdles final, and Holmes had the 400m final on the same day as the heats. So, despite the 4x400m final being the first time they ran together in competition, the managed to make it work. In her interview, Thomas added with pride, “We went out there and made that happen together,” capturing the determination that carried them through.

When one of the interviewers expressed their surprise, asking the 27-year-old to elaborate on how they handled things, Thomas replied, “When we come together, we have a very short amount of time to come together, and that was in Paris.” She continued, “What we have to do is build a rapport and trust each other and respect each other as athletes and that’s the best thing we can do. And that’s how we win gold medals.” Interestingly, Gabby Thomas doesn’t really specialize in the 400m but was still chosen for the team.

Until 2023, her personal best was a 51.15. But in April last year, she improved it to 49.68. Following her gold-medal winning performance in the 200m final in Paris, NFL legend Shannon Sharpe said, “If I was in the Team USA, I’m putting my a**  on 4x400m. I’m gonna make sure Gabby Thomas and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, they’re both on that team… [Thomas] can run sub 50.” USATF seemed to have listened to him! And, well, it paid off. Despite the mishap during the handoff with McLaughlin-Levrone, Thomas managed a 49.30 split time in the third leg, handing the baton to Homes for the anchor leg.

What may have also been another reason for the mishap was the fact that McLaughlin-Levrone is used to running the anchor leg. However, she ran the second leg in the final, which was new for her. Discussing this decision, the 25-year-old said, “It was kind of a joint decision between me and the coaches. We knew it was gonna look a little unconventional, but we knew if we did our parts it was going to be fun.” This was a testament to the fact that only mutual respect and constant coordination in the track and field can bring success to the sprinters.

Alexis Holmes, while acknowledging that moment of panic between Thomas and McLaughlin-Levrone, said in the post-race conference, “I think we came out here tonight with a goal to leave with a gold medal and I had full faith and trust in these women to get the job done.” As for the 400mH gold medalist, she didn’t specifically mention the baton exchange with Gabby, but instead praised her fellow athletes: “This generation of track and field is on a different level.”

An unbreakable bond: Gabby Thomas and McLaughlin-Levrone shatter American record together

The gold medal in the Olympic women’s 4x400m relay went to the United States, marking their 8th consecutive victory in this event—a streak that extends over 28 years and shows no signs of stopping. With a time of 3:15:27, the Americans achieved the second-fastest time ever recorded, narrowly missing the world record set by the Soviet Union at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, which stands at 3:15.17. This record has remained untouchable for 36 years, with its legacy often discussed by those who remember it. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone ran the second-fastest leg of the event, closely followed by the Netherlands’ Femke Bol, who anchored with an impressive 48.62-second lap.

Before participating in this event, McLauglin-Levrone broke her world record during the 400mH, where she recorded a time of 50.37s. At the age of 25, she has now won four gold medals in three Olympiads. After the U.S. 4×400 relay, Gabby Thomas also made her own history. On August 6, she took gold in the 200m with a run of 21.83. After not getting gold in past events, she won gold in the 4x100m relay, and she said to NBC Olympics, “I’m really in disbelief because having an Olympic gold medal is something in my wildest dreams,” further exaggerating how much she worked hard to get to this position.

Although Gabby Thomas and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone have often competed against each other in events like the Tokyo Olympics and World Championships, they came together for their country this time. McLaughlin-Levrone had previously defeated Gabby multiple times in both the 200m and 400m events, but the Paris Olympics showcased their unity and bond.