SAINT-DENIS, France — With about 200 meters left in the women’s 4×400 relay race, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Gabby Thomas started walking on the track. Naturally, perhaps even subconsciously, they started drifting to the conclusion. One their legs rendered inevitable.
“They had to be escorted, like pull us back,” Shamier Little said with a laugh. “We were kind of celebrating. But, you know, anything can happen.”
Anything almost did happen. The exchange between McLaughlin-Levrone and Thomas nearly went awry. Thomas took the baton, turned to take off and almost tripped on the inside rail.
It was the only drama in the race.
“I did have a little moment of panic with the collision on the rail,” anchor leg Alexis Holmes said. “Once I saw Gabby back on the track, I knew we were gonna be OK.”
Thomas indeed stayed on her feet, padded the lead McLaughlin-Levrone built and the U.S. was off to its eighth consecutive gold medal in the women’s 4×400 relay.
“Of course,” Little said, “that anything wasn’t going to happen.”
The U.S. women’s 4×400 relay team celebrates winning gold at the Paris Olympics. (Photo: Patrick Smith / Getty)
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