At the 2025 World Athletics Relays, a thrilling display of speed and teamwork took a humorous turn when a uniform mix-up between Team USA and Great Britain caught everyone’s attention.
Sprint star Twanisha “TeeTee” Terry of the U.S., a two-time World Championships gold medalist in the women’s 4x100m relay, found herself at the center of the lighthearted drama after a race that was as competitive as it was confusing.
In a heated women’s 4x100m heat, Belgium’s Delphine Nkansa surged past Terry to secure victory for her team in an impressive 42.80 seconds, edging out the U.S. squad.
Meanwhile, in another heat, Jamaica—featuring Terry as a key member—finished second with a time of 42.51s, just behind Spain’s 42.18s, setting the stage for a highly anticipated final against Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s Jamaican team.
But it wasn’t just the race results that had fans buzzing. Both the American and British teams, decked out in nearly identical Nike-designed kits, sparked confusion on and off the track, leading to a comical misidentification by World Athletics.
World Athletics posted an excited reaction on X, celebrating the intense competition with,
“What just happened?! ’s Delphine Nkansa powers past ’s TeeTee Terry to win their women’s 4x100m heat in 42.80 at #WorldRelays.”
However, the post inadvertently highlighted the uniform debacle, as fans quickly noticed how difficult it was to tell the teams apart.
Terry, a Nike-sponsored Olympic athlete, didn’t miss the chance to poke fun at the situation. She replied on X with a playful jab:
“Let me send that tweet to Nike and tell them that’s why they have to stop being lazy when making the uniforms .”
The mix-up wasn’t just a one-off laugh—it shed light on a recurring issue in track and field. A 2023 study from the Journal of Sports Engineering highlighted how poor uniform design can lead to visual errors by officials, sometimes affecting race outcomes and athlete recognition.
For teams like Jamaica, with a storied sprinting legacy, and the U.S., where athletes like Terry have built their careers on precision and visibility, such oversights can be particularly frustrating.
Fans on social media joined the conversation, sharing memes and reactions about the indistinguishable kits, proving that even in high-stakes competition, humor can bring the track community together.
Terry’s comment wasn’t just a quip—it also pointed to broader athlete sponsorship issues. As a Nike-sponsored athlete, her playful critique underscored the expectations athletes have for their partners to deliver designs that reflect their individuality and national pride. Uniform clarity isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about ensuring athletes are properly recognized for their achievements, especially in events as fast-paced as a 4x100m relay.
As the women’s 4x100m relay finals approach, all eyes will be on Terry and Team USA as they face off against Fraser-Pryce’s Jamaican squad. While the uniform mix-up added a lighthearted moment to the relays, it also served as a reminder that even at the highest levels of competition, the smallest details—like a well-designed kit—can make a big difference
