In a dazzling display of speed and endurance, the U.S. men's and women's 4x400 relay teams sprinted to Olympic gold in Paris, with record-breaking times and an unforgettable finish by anchor Rai Benjamin.

Proving once again that practice makes practically perfect, the U.S. relay teams not only clinched Olympic gold in both the men's and women's 4x400 events but did so while rewriting the record books. Anchored by superhuman efforts from Rai Benjamin and Alexis Holmes, both teams left their opponents in awe and their previous records in the dust. It's a testament to American excellence—and perhaps an implicit challenge to the world to try and keep up.

The U.S. men's 4x400 relay team, composed of Christopher Bailey, Vernon Norwood, Bryce Deadmon, and anchor Rai Benjamin, stormed to victory with an Olympic-record time of 2:54.43. This remarkable feat has secured the U.S. men their third consecutive Olympic gold in this event, an ongoing streak that seems as unstoppable as their sprinter’s speed.

Not to be outdone, the U.S. women's 4x400 relay team, featuring Shamier Little, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Gabby Thomas, and anchor Alexis Holmes, raced to gold with an American record time of 3:15.27. Their performance marked the eighth consecutive Olympic gold in the 4x400 relay for the U.S. women—solidifying their long-standing dominance. It seems the phrase 'on a roll' was invented just for them!

Rai Benjamin’s epic run had viewers on the edge of their seats, especially in the final leg where he had to fend off Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo. Tebogo clocked the fastest split among all competitors at a mind-bending 43.04 seconds, but Benjamin's determination—perhaps fueled by visions of gold—ensured that the U.S. kept their lead, crossing the finish line mere milliseconds ahead of their rivals from Botswana, who completed the race in 2:54.53. The U.S. men's team set an Olympic-record time of 2:54.43, finishing 0.10 seconds ahead of Botswana.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s contribution to the women's relay was equally riveting. Running a scorching 47.8-second split on the second leg, McLaughlin-Levrone pushed her team firmly into the lead, leaving little room for their competitors to catch up. The Netherlands earned silver in this race, while Great Britain took bronze. It seems the competitors were left wondering if they had blinked and missed her entirely!

Both the men's and women's teams faced formidable competition. The men’s silver medal went to Botswana, followed by Great Britain, who secured the bronze with a solid performance. On the women's side, the podium was rounded out by the Netherlands and Great Britain. However, the U.S. teams made it clear from the start that they were there to win—and win they did.

Gabby Thomas, a key asset in the women's relay, added to her medal tally with three golds at the Paris Olympics, thanks to her stellar performance in the women's 200 meters, the women's 4x100 relay, and, of course, the women's 4x400 relay. Notching a hat trick of victories at a single Games surely puts her in elite company.

Rai Benjamin didn’t just shine in the relay; he also claimed gold in the men's 400 hurdles, proving that he can handle pressure whether on the track alone or as part of a team. It's no wonder he was chosen as the anchor—his ability to deliver under pressure is practically legendary at this point.

The U.S team’s achievements at the Paris Olympics extend beyond just the relays. Collectively, they amassed a staggering 14 gold medals and 34 overall medals in track and field events. Among these, 11 came from track competitions alone, a haul that would make any national team envious.

Remarkably, the time set by the U.S. women's team in the 4x400 relay shattered an American record that had stood since the 1988 Seoul Olympics. It's not every day that you witness an old record crushed by athletes who seem to redefine the limits of what’s possible every time they step onto the track.

As the spectators cheered and the medals were awarded, one can't help but wonder if there are any athletes out there willing—and able—to accept the implicit challenge issued by the U.S. relay teams. After all, the bar has been set high, and the world will have to sprint, hop, and jump just to catch a glimpse of it.