It was an intense Friday night for the U.S. in track and field at the Paris Olympics. Algerian boxer Imane Khelif won gold despite facing doubts about her gender.
Sha’Carri Richardson won her first gold medal, while the U.S. men’s relay team lost their chance at victory due to a mistake in the 4×100 relay.
Shortly after being disqualified for a botched handoff on a rainy night at Stade de France, Carl Lewis criticized USA Track. Lewis, who won nine Olympic gold medals for the U.S., called for a complete overhaul of the track and field program.
“It is clear that EVERYONE at USATF is more concerned with relationships than with winning,” Lewis wrote on social media. “No athlete should step on the track and run another relay until this program is changed from top to bottom.”
Despite the setbacks, the U.S. team had two more victories. Richardson led the women’s 4×100 relay team with a strong final lap, helping them finish in 41.78 seconds, just .07 seconds ahead of Britain.
Gabby Thomas ran the third leg and earned her second gold of the Games, following her win in the 200 meters. Twanisha Terry and 100-meter bronze medalist Melissa Jefferson completed the team.
The handoff between Terry and Thomas, which nearly cost them in the qualifiers, was much smoother this time.
“The moment I would describe is realizing that when we won as USA ladies, it was a phenomenal feeling for all of us,” Richardson said.
