Athletics at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Mixed 4 × 400 metres relay
First mixed-gender Olympic relay; Poland won gold.
The first mixed-gender athletics relay in Olympic history took place in Tokyo, with sixteen teams of two men and two women each. The event was held over two days, 30 and 31 July 2021, at the Japan National Stadium. Poland won the final with an Olympic and European record of 3:09.87, ahead of the Dominican Republic (3:10.21, a national record) and the United States (3:10.22). This addition was part of the IOC's push for gender equality.
Quick Facts
- Event
- Mixed 4 × 400 metres relay
- Games
- 2020 Summer
- Venue
- Japan National Stadium; Tokyo, Japan
- Dates
- 30 July 2021 (round 1), 31 July 2021 (final)
- Competitors
- 76
- Nations
- 15
- Win value
- 3:09.87 min OR AR, European
- Silver
- Lidio Andrés Feliz
- Marileidy Paulino
- Anabel Medina
- Alexander Ogando
- Luguelín Santos
Facts from the source article.
Background
The mixed 4 × 400 metres relay made its Olympic debut at the 2020 Games, part of a broader addition of mixed team events. This race format first appeared at the 2017 IAAF World Relays and joined the World Championships programme in 2019. It uses the two-round system adopted for other relays in 2012. Each team fields two men and two women, who can compete in any order.
Qualification
A National Olympic Committee could qualify a relay team of four athletes in one of three ways, with a total of 16 NOCs qualifying. The top eight NOCs at the 2019 World Athletics Championships qualified, as did the top eight at the 2021 World Athletics Relays. Where an NOC placed in the top eight at both events, the quota place went to the world ranking list as of 29 June 2021; three teams did so, making three places available through rankings. The qualifying period ran from 1 May 2019 to 29 June 2021, with a suspension from 6 April 2020 to 30 November 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Results
The two heats of round 1 were held on 30 July 2021 starting at 20:00 (UTC+9). The first three in each heat and the next two fastest overall qualified for the final. After finishing first and second in their heat, the USA and Dominican Republic teams were initially disqualified for an alleged baton-changeover violation; both appealed and the decision was reversed. This meant Germany and Spain, which had qualified after the disqualifications, did not qualify; Germany protested and was allowed to start the final as the ninth team. The Dutch and Belgian teams protested the reinstatements, but both protests were rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The final was held on 31 July 2021 at 21:35 (UTC+9). In the first leg, the Netherlands' Liemarvin Bonevacia took the lead. Marileidy Paulino pulled the Dominican Republic past all teams, and Kendall Ellis powered through the fourth turn. Down the home stretch, Poland's Natalia Kaczmarek ran past Ellis. Anabel Medina left the pass with almost a three-second Dominican lead. Femke Bol (Netherlands), Justyna Święty-Ersetic (Poland) and Kaylin Whitney (USA) chased Medina. At the handoff, Alexander Ogando (DOM), Ramsey Angela (NED), Kajetan Duszyński (POL) and Vernon Norwood (USA) left the zone. Duszyński passed Angela into the lead and crossed the finish line with his arms outstretched. Norwood relaxed, but Ogando continued to chase and won silver for the Dominican Republic. Poland won in an Olympic and European record of 3:09.87, the Dominican Republic in a national record of 3:10.21, and the United States in 3:10.22.
More in Athletics at the 2020 Summer Olympics
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced