Heartbreak on the Final Stretch: US Relay Team Loses Olympic Gold in 4×400 Mixed Relay

SAINT-DENIS, France — Dutch athlete Femke Bol showcased her tenacity and skill in the 4×400-meter mixed relay, securing an Olympic gold medal for the Netherlands.

The race, held on Saturday, saw Bol overtake three competitors in the final half lap. Her remarkable performance clocked in at 47.93 seconds for her lap, culminating in a total time of 3 minutes, 7.43 seconds. This achievement placed her team .31 seconds ahead of the United States.

This victory echoes Bol’s previous triumph at the world championships in the women’s 4×400, where she also rallied late to seize the gold. Notably, she pulled off this feat after a previous stumble in the mixed relay, where she had been gaining ground on the U.S. team.

The American team, who had set a world record of 3:07.41 the previous day, fielded the same athletes for this race. The U.S. maintained a strong position, tying with Belgium when Bryce Deadmon handed the baton to Kaylyn Brown for the final stretch. However, Brown was unable to fend off Bol’s charge, highlighting Bol’s exceptional prowess in the 400-meter race.

Femke Bol will continue her Olympic pursuits, returning to the track on Sunday for the women’s 400 hurdles opening round.