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Team USA's double gold for men and women 4x400m relay finals lauded as 'fitting track finale'

The US men's relay team consisted of Michael Cherry, Michael Norman, Bryce Deadmon and Rai Benjamin, who dominated the event

Fans on Twitter were already over the moon, cheering for Team USA's gold-winning performance in the women's 4x400m relay final at Tokyo Olympics on August 7, Saturday. And then, some 20 odd minutes later, their male counterparts also landed in the top spot in the men's 4x400m relay final.

The US men's relay team consisted of Michael Cherry, Michael Norman, Bryce Deadmon and Rai Benjamin, who dominated in the event and finished in first place with 2 minutes and 55.70 seconds. They were followed by the Netherlands won silver with 2 minutes and 57.18 seconds. Botswana bagged the bronze with 2 minutes and 57.27 seconds. Out of the participants who made up Team USA in the final relay race, Deadmon, 24, had previously won a bronze medal the Summer Games debut of the mixed 4x400m relay. There he had competed with Elijah Godwin, Lynna Irby, and Taylor Manson. With the relay gold, Benjamin, 24, earned his second medal in Tokyo, previously winning silver in the men's 400m hurdles.

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With the double gold win at the women's and men's 4x400m relays, Team USA has captured 18 Olympic titles. The team now has proudly won eight of the last 10 gold medals awarded since the 1984 Los Angeles Games at the event. They were stripped of their gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Games, due to anti-doping rules. At the 2012 London Games, the US team won silver in the event. 

'MEN WIN GOLD!!!!'

Twitter was ecstatic after both the men and the women's teams won gold medals at Olympics 4x400m relays. "The women’s and men’s 4x400 relay team never miss with the Olympic gold win #Olympics," one of them said, while another wrote, "#Tokyo2020 #USA Woman's 4x4 Relay Gold Men's 4x4 Relay Gold Well done to you all." A third commented, "And an equally impressive #gold performance by the U.S. Men's 4x400M Relay team! #Athletics #OlympicGames #Tokyo2020." The next roared, "MEN WIN GOLD!!!! #TeamUSATF men close out the #Tokyo2020 track events with in the Men's 4x400m Relay final in a dazzling 2:55.70! #JourneyToGold."

One more quipped, "Women's relay did their thing - True Americans! Men's relay avenged themselves - they're semi-Americans now 4x400M Relay #Gold #USA #Athletics #Tokyo2020." Another said, "Finally a #gold for the #USA on the track and it comes in the final event of #Tokyo2020 at Olympic Stadium. Men’s 4x400m relay, including Chesapeake’s Michael Cherry, are winners!" A commenter tweeted, "A fitting track finale for USA by winning the men’s and women’s 4*400m relay. They have faced individual disappointments but this might be some redemption for a few of them. #Tokyo2020." A person reacted with, "Wow USA men’s 4x400 relay ran a great race. The last leg was fantastic."

Gold win for US women's relay team too

Just a few minutes before the men's 4x400m relay team did the US proud, the women team, consisting of Sydney McLaughlin, Dalilah Muhammad, Athing Mu, and Allyson Felix, bagged gold on August 7, finishing before Poland and Jamaica. The winning team finished the race in 3 minutes and 16.85 seconds, silver was taken by Poland that finished in 3 minutes and 20.53 seconds. Jamaica took bronze home after completing the race in 3 minutes and 21.24 seconds.

It was an especially poignant moment for Allyson Felix since it is the final Olympic Games of her career. It was also her tenth Olympic medal. At 35 years and 263 days, the new mother also became the most decorated female in US track and field history. “I don't think it has really sunk in as yet. I am very grateful for everyone. I have so much respect and admiration and I know I would not have been here without those who paved the way. I am grateful for my own journey, I love the sport and it is very special to be 35 and still doing what I love,” Felix said on Friday, August 6, before adding: “Tonight was special. I do feel like myself again and it has been a battle to that.”