The United States delivered a performance of sheer dominance to claim gold in the women’s 4x400m relay at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025 on Sunday (21).
Despite the rain-soaked track at the Japan National Stadium, the Americans secure victory in a championship record time of 3:16.61, led home by Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone on anchor.
Jamaica battled bravely to take silver in 3:19.25, while defending champions the Netherlands settled for bronze in 3:20.18.
Full Results
- United States (USA) – 3:16.61
- Jamaica (JAM) – 3:19.25
- Netherlands (NED) – 3:20.18
- Belgium (BEL) – 3:22.15
- Poland (POL) – 3:22.91
- Norway (NOR) – 3:23.71
- France (FRA) – 3:24.08
- Italy (ITA) – 3:25.00
Such was the strength of Team USA that each of their four runners produced the fastest split on their respective legs. Isabella Whittaker gave them an early cushion with a composed 50.12 on the opening lap.
Lynna Irby-Jackson then blew the race wide open, running a searing 48.71 to hand over with a commanding lead at halfway. Aaliyah Butler extended the gap further with a 49.96 before McLaughlin-Levrone, already crowned the 400m world champion in Tokyo, produced a devastating 47.82 anchor leg, treating the crowd to both control and flair.
The American quartet’s time shaved a tenth of a second off the previous championship record, set by their predecessors in Stuttgart in 1993, and now ranks as the fifth-fastest women’s 4x400m time in history. It was also a sweet redemption after the heartbreak of disqualification in Budapest two years ago and added to their Olympic gold from Paris 2024.
Jamaica, meanwhile, impressed with a spirited fight for silver. Dejanea Oakley, Stacey Ann Williams and Andrenette Knight kept them firmly in the medal mix before anchor Nickisha Pryce ran a superb 48.50, ensuring the Caribbean nation comfortably held off the Netherlands.
The Dutch quartet of Eveline Saalberg, Lieke Klaver, Lisanne De Witte and Femke Bol, who had triumphed in Budapest, showed strong consistency but could not match the American pace. Still, Klaver (49.08) and Bol (49.10) turned in brilliant runs that secured bronze.
Belgium, anchored by Naomi Van den Broeck, placed fourth in 3:22.15, ahead of Poland, while Norway finished sixth in a new national record of 3:23.71, thanks to Henriette Jaeger’s eye-catching 49.53 on anchor. France and Italy rounded out the final in seventh and eighth respectively.
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