The 2025 World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China, was supposed to be another showcase of USA’s dominance on the track, especially in the women’s relays, where they have historically set the global standard. But instead, the weekend’s performance left fans with more questions than answers.
Mechelle Lewis Freeman, a 2008 U.S. Olympian and the mastermind behind Team USA’s double relay gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, took to social media with a cryptic but loaded message following the women’s 4x100m final.
“So many things I wish I could say…” she wrote on her X (formerly twitter) account.
USA Stumble as Rivals Shine
On the track, it was Spain who stunned the field, setting a new national record of 42.28 seconds to claim gold. Pre-race favorites Jamaica settled for bronze in 42.33 seconds, with a lineup featuring icons like Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson. But it was Team USA’s performance that drew the most attention, not for medals, but for mishaps.
The American squad faltered in their exchanges, lacked cohesion, and ultimately finished outside the medal positions, a rare and humbling moment for a team so accustomed to relay podiums.
Freeman’s Departure Leaves a Void
Part of the uncertainty surrounding Team USA’s relays stems from Freeman’s unexpected decision earlier this year to step down as Head Women’s Relays Coach , a role in which she had flourished, guiding stars like Sha’Carri Richardson and carefully assembling relay lineups built for success.
Her resignation, just months before the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, blindsided the athletics community and left a leadership gap in one of the sport’s most crucial areas. Freeman’s ability to identify the right athletes for the right legs and foster chemistry under pressure was a hallmark of her coaching tenure.
Now, without that steady hand, Team USA’s relay program faces an uncertain road ahead, with three spots still to be secured for the upcoming World Championships.
An Emotional Sign-Off
Freeman’s farewell message on X account was both heartfelt and telling:
“Thank you, Lord, for choosing me to show the world how to WIN against it all. To the athletes, keep making history and much love. ❤️”
As track and field fans look toward Tokyo, the question remains, who will rise to fill the void Freeman left behind, and can Team USA’s relays reclaim their place atop the podium without her guiding presence?
The road to redemption just got a lot steeper.
