The U.S. men’s track and field 4×100 relay team hit another rough patch at the Paris Olympics 2024, finishing seventh and missing out on a medal. It’s been a tough run since they last medaled in 2004 when they snagged silver. Since then, it’s been a series of letdowns: disqualifications in 2012 and 2016, and not even making the final in 2008 and 2020. Every time, problems with handoffs have been a big issue.

This time was no different. The Track and Field team’s curse continued as they were disqualified for an invalid handoff after the first leg. Although the U.S. finished with the seventh-best time, they were awarded eighth place due to the disqualification. Christian Coleman kicked things off for the relay team, but the hiccup came with his connection to Kenny Bednarek. Bednarek jumped the gun a bit too soon, catching the baton outside the transfer zone and costing the team a shot at medaling.

In the latest Ready Set Go podcast, Track and Field legend Erin Brown joined Justin Gatlin and Rodney Green to chat about the ongoing curse dogging the U.S. men’s relay team. Brown pointed out that even with new talent stepping in and older athletes leaving, the same issues keep popping up. He put it like this: “Same story, different author or same book, different character,” highlighting how the underlying issues persist regardless of who’s running the track.

Brown also took a swing at how people often blame the coaches when things go wrong and only celebrate the athletes when they do well. He mentioned, “That’s just a misconception. You blame the coach when things go bad and then you praise the athletes when things go right.” Adding to that, he reflected on how, after 24 years of trouble at the highest level, it’s not just the “characters” that need blame but the broader issues that keep the story stuck on repeat.

Host Justin Gatlin got on board with Erin Brown’s views about the U.S. men’s relay team’s ongoing issues. Gatlin shared his own track experiences, saying, “I agree with you man, any time we get in a situation, I am speaking from a relay participant, if you not feeling it with your teammate and you the one passing the Baton or receiving the Baton and you say ‘hey man it was a little hard for me to catch you so I’mma put at least I’mma shorten it two steps‘” Gatlin emphasized that it’s not always about talking to the relay coach; athletes need to make those quick calls on their own.

Gatlin continued, noting how critical it is for athletes to make those immediate adjustments. “At the end of the day guess what you’re the one that’s on that track you’re the one that’s going to be passing and receiving that baton at high high top speed,” he said. For him, these split-second decisions are essential and can’t be micromanaged by anyone else. It’s all about taking responsibility and adapting quickly to ensure the relay runs smoothly.

Despite the ongoing curse haunting the 4x100m relay team, it seems like it’s taken a different route when it comes to the 4x400m relay. How do I know this? Because they shattered an Olympic record at the Paris Games! Amidst all the challenges, this team turned the tide and made history, proving that sometimes, even the toughest curses can be broken with a dash of determination and a whole lot of speed.

Track and Field stars ignite with record-breaking performance in 4x400m relay

The U.S. men’s Track and Field team didn’t just snag the gold in the 4x400m relay finals—they also shattered the Olympic record! The dream team of Christopher Bailey, Vernon Norwood, Bryce Deadmon, and Rai Benjamin not only clinched the top spot but also set a dazzling new standard. The final lap was a high-stakes duel between Benjamin, the U.S. 400m gold medalist, and Botswana’s 200m Olympic champ, Letsile Tebogo.

Both athletes took the baton almost simultaneously, but it was Benjamin who surged ahead, crossing the finish line first with a record-breaking time of 2:54.43 while Tebogo followed close behind with a time of 2:54.53. It was a thrilling finish that left the crowd on their feet and added a golden chapter to Olympic history.

Rai Benjamin was buzzing after the win, saying, “It feels great to win – I feel like that’s what we’re expected to do and coming out with this great group of guys. … Quincy popped it off, put it out there for us, Justin held that lead and expanded upon that a little bit, and overall, it was a great race.” He highlighted how every team member did their part perfectly, turning their expectations into a record-breaking reality.

As the team enjoyed their win, the old 4x100m relay curse still lingers. What’s your take on why this jinx keeps holding Team USA back? Do you agree with what Brown and Gatlin had to say about it? We’d love to hear your thoughts—drop a comment below and let’s chat about it!