The Jamaican team, comprised of Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, Yohan Blake, and Bolt, set a world record of 36.84 seconds and secured Bolt's status as legendary.
This is Bolt's third gold medal at this year's Olympic games and his sixth gold overall. Bolt is unbeaten as an Olympian, says
USA Today. He has won the 100 m, 200 m and 4x100 m relay in back-to-back Olympic games. There can now be no question as to who is the fastest man in the world.
The U.S. team, consisting of Trell Kimmons, Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay, and Ryan Bailey, came second, setting an American record of 37.04 seconds. Coming into the last leg of the race, Bailey had a slight edge over Bolt, but Bolt made up for it and blew past him into victory.
Canada's team, made up of Gavin Smellie, Oluseyi Smith, Jared Connaughton, and anchor Justyn Warner, ran a great race and showed up in the results as coming in third. They celebrated winning the bronze by hugging and wrapping the Canadian flag around themselves. Then came the disappointing news that they were disqualified due to a slight mis-step by Connaughton, reports
CBC.
Connaughton was distraught after the race, taking responsibility for stepping once on the line, reports
The Toronto Star.
“It’s my fault and I’m sorry,” he said in a television interview immediately following the race. Trinidad's team, which took the bronze after Canada's disqualification, looked bittersweet and consoled the Canadian team.
It was heartbreaking for Canada but yet it showed the country that Canadian sprinting is still world class.