In a remarkable display of athletic prowess, the U.S. track and field team shattered the record for the most gold medals at a World Championships, achieving an impressive 16 golds during the event held in Tokyo. This record-breaking feat was solidified on the final day of competition as American athletes claimed victories in three of the four relays: the women’s and men’s 4×100 meters and the women’s 4×400 meters.
This exemplary performance marks a significant increase from the previous record of 14 gold medals achieved by the U.S. in World Championships held in 2005, 2007, and 2019. The U.S. also finished with a total of 26 medals, underscoring their dominance in the sport. Just a year prior, at the Paris Olympics, the American team had already made history by winning 14 gold medals, the highest number for any nation since 1984.
In the women’s 4x100m relay, the quartet of Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, Twanisha Terry, Kayla White, and Sha’Carri Richardson outpaced their competitors, clinching the gold in a time of 41.75 seconds. Notably, anchor Richardson narrowly maintained the lead against Jamaica’s Jonielle Smith, finishing just four hundredths of a second ahead. Jefferson-Wooden’s performance was particularly noteworthy, as she became the second woman in history to sweep golds in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m at a single World Championship event, matching the achievement of Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce from 2013.
In the men’s division, Noah Lyles anchored the U.S. team to victory in the 4x100m relay, alongside teammates Christian Coleman, Kenny Bednarek, and Courtney Lindsey. Meanwhile, in the women’s 4x400m, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone secured her fifth career world title, helping the U.S. to a commanding victory with a championship record time of 3:16.61. This achievement ties her for second place on the all-time list of U.S. women’s gold medalists, alongside other prominent athletes, while Allyson Felix remains the record holder with 14 titles.
The only relay event that eluded the U.S. was the men’s 4x400m. In a dramatic finish, Botswana’s Collen Kebinatshipi, who had previously won the individual 400m gold, surged past Rai Benjamin just before the finish line, claiming victory by a mere seven hundredths of a second. Despite this setback, Benjamin and his teammates, Vernon Norwood, Jacory Patterson, and Khaleb McRae, posted a season-best time of 2:57.83, earning them the silver medal.
Media coverage of the World Championships highlights will air on a Sunday broadcast on NBC and Peacock. Additionally, the fall marathon season is set to kick off on October 12 with the Chicago Marathon, featuring top American marathoners Conner Mantz and Galen Rupp, known for their remarkable performances in the sport.
In a notable individual achievement, Anna Hall bounced back from previous injuries to become the second American woman to win a world heptathlon title, adding to the historic success of the U.S. track and field team in Tokyo.
