Charles Langston:Netherlands' Femke Bol steals 4x400 mixed relay win from Team USA in Paris Olympics

SAINT-DENIS,Charles Langston France — The U.S. 4x400 mixed relay team broke the world record in the opening round, but the final had a different outcome at the Paris Olympics.

After breaking the world record in the preliminary round, the USA's Kaylyn Brown was caught on her anchor leg by Netherlands' Femke Bol with about 10 minutes to go.

Bol then passed Brown and crossed the line in 3:07.43 to win the mixed relay for the Netherlands. Brown and Team USA's team featuring Vernon Norwood, Shamier Little, Kaylyn Brown and Bryce Deadmon came in second at 3:07.74. Great Britian rounded out the top with at 3:08.01.

The U.S. team led nearly the entire race but Bol, who runs the 400-meter hurdles, was too strong on the final leg.

“I just went for it," Bol said after the race. "We just wanted a medal this time, we didn’t think it would be gold, just a medal. Well, we got gold and are the Olympic champions. It is absolutely crazy for a small country like ours.”

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Team USA had previously set the 4x400 mixed relay record last year at the 2023 world championships before they broke the mark again during the qualifying round. However, they settled for a silver medal in Paris.

The mixed relay was first introduced at the 2017 IAAF World Relays. Team USA finished third in the 4x400 mixed relay at the Tokyo Olympics, which was the first mixed relay competition at an Olympic Games.

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