By Samuel Peters
Rai Benjamin, son of West Indies fast bowler Winston Benjamin, capped-off a remarkable Olympics by anchoring the United States to gold in the men’s 4×400-meter relay. This victory came just days after he secured his first individual Olympic gold in the 400-meter hurdles.
In a dramatic finale, Benjamin faced-off against Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, the 200-meter champion. The American team, comprising Chris Bailey, Vernon Norwood, Bryce Deadmon, and Benjamin, set a new Olympic record of 2:52.43, clinching Team USA’s 13th gold medal in track and field at the Paris Games.
Benjamin, a former student of the Antigua Grammar School, received the baton from Deadmon in first place and maintained the lead throughout the final leg. Tebogo mounted a fierce challenge in the last 100 meters, clocking an impressive 43.03 split – the fastest of the Paris Olympics, and the second-fastest in history behind Michael Johnson’s 42.94 from 1993. However, Benjamin’s experience in the 400-meter hurdles proved crucial as he held off Tebogo’s surge, crossing the finish line a mere one-tenth of a second ahead.
The American quartet delivered outstanding performances throughout the race. Bailey opened with a 44.50-second split, followed by Norwood’s 43.30. Norwood, fresh from his gold in the 4×400 mixed relay, maintained the momentum. Deadmon’s blistering third leg of 43.50 set the stage for Benjamin’s anchor leg, where he recorded the team’s fastest split of 43.18 seconds.
This victory adds to the United States’ impressive tally in track and field at the Paris Olympics. Of their 13 gold medals, seven have been won by male athletes, with six of those victories coming on the track. Benjamin’s dual gold medals in the 400-meter hurdles and the 4x400m relay highlight his exceptional performance at the 2024 Olympics, cementing his status as one of the best on the 400 metre circuit.
