Paris 2024 athletics: Team USA smashes mixed 4x400m relay world record

Team USA produced early fireworks on the opening night of the track programme of Olympic Games Paris 2024 improving the world record* in the mixed 4x400m relay during the heats on Friday (2 August).

The quartet of Bryce Deadmon, Vernon Norwood, Shamier Little and Kaylyn Brown won the first of two heats in a blistering three minutes, 07.41 seconds (3:07.41) shaving more than a second off the record the US set at last year’s World Championships in Budapest.

The US led the race from start to finish with Norwood putting the team in the lead before handing the baton to Little, who stretched their advantage in the second leg.

Running the third leg, Deadmon put more daylight on the chasers before Brown anchored the team to a spectacular record-breaking time. Brown crossed the line more than three seconds ahead of the second-placed France.

“Well, I just wanted to get out and put a good position in for my teammates,” Deadmon told Eurosport after the race.

“I had to set the tone for them to put them in a good position to get them out in front. They did the rest of the job for me.”

The US will have another chance to break their record for a third time in Saturday’s final where they will be looking to translate their early speed into silverware.

*Record is subject to ratification