Paris 2024 athletics: All results, as USA seals eighth consecutive women’s 4x400m relay gold

Team USA lit the track on fire in the women’s 4x400m relay to storm across the finish line more than four seconds ahead of the second-place finisher, clocking a massive 3:15.30 for a new American record in the event for the first time since Seoul 1988.

With a stacked lineup that sent the baton through Shamier Little, Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone, Gabby Thomas and finally Alexis Holmes, the American women sealed an eighth consecutive Olympic title in the event.

Just 0.77 seconds ahead of the rest of the field at the first handoff, Mclaughlin-Levrone kicked into gear to set the U.S. ahead of silver medallists the Netherlands by nearly three seconds at the 200m mark.

Thomas, who won gold in the 200m and 4x100m earlier this week, continued to build on Mclaughlin-Levrone’s lead before Holmes took it home for an uncontestable first-place finish.

Their final time put them within 0.1 seconds of the World Record that has held for 36 years.

“It’s such an honour to compete with these women,” Thomas said after the race.

“I knew they were going to get the job done. It’s not an easy thing to compete on this stage with this type of pressure.”

The Netherlands, anchored by Femke Bol, clinched the silver with a time of 3:19.50 after stepping up to Paris 2024 as the reigning 4x400m world champions.

“We ended the Olympic Games with a good feeling,” Bol said after the race.

“I went full speed in the last 100 metres. I could have run in lane two, but that's just stupid. Better I waited, waited, waited, and made sure I was there for the last push…That was the goal. That was exciting. But we got silver because we all ran so well together.”

Great Britain flew through the finish just 0.22 seconds behind the silver medallists to take the country’s third ever bronze medal in the event.

"It's not easy to make the squad, it's not easy to be an Olympic finalist, it's not easy to be an Olympic medallist, and we've done all those things, so very proud,” said Team GB’s Laviai Nielsen.

"I'm so, so excited,” added Lina Nielsen, “This is everything I've ever dreamed of, and it was so emotional out there on the podium.”

Ireland, who made an appearance in their first ever women’s 4x400m Olympic final, deserve an honorable mention after maintaining a spot in the top three through most of the race before narrowly missing the podium to take fourth, just 0.18 seconds behind Team GB.

Athletics: Women's 4x400m podium

Gold: USA, 3:15.30

Silver: Netherlands, 3:19:50

Bronze: Great Britain, 3:19.72

Find full results on Olympics.com.