Alexis Holmes and Femke Bol in Glasgow (© AFP / Getty Images)
The US women’s 4x400m squad will be hoping that a return to Nassau for the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 will be a lucky omen.
For the first three editions of this competition – all of which were held in the Bahamian capital – USA won the women’s 4x400m. But ever since the event has moved out of the Caribbean, the women’s 4x400m title has been won by other nations.
In 2021 – a year in which USA and Jamaica opted not to send a team – Cuba was the surprising victor, finishing just ahead of Poland and Great Britain & Northern Ireland.
Normal order was restored soon after, with USA winning Olympic gold later that year and then winning world gold in 2022. But it’s the Netherlands who head to Nassau as the reigning world championships indoors and out, following their victories in Budapest in 2023 and Glasgow in 2024.
Granted, their World Championships victory last year came after the USA was disqualified for a baton exchange that occurred outside the zone. But the Dutch squad triumphed again at this year’s World Championships, beating the USA fair and square.
Femke Bol and Lieke Klaver, the world indoor 400m gold and silver medallists respectively, always pack a powerful punch for the Netherlands. Meanwhile, Alexis Holmes – who anchored the USA to mixed 4x400m victory in Budapest just moments after Bol fell – is the standout performer on the USA women’s 4x400m team.
Jamaica is the only team to have reached the podium in this event at the past three outdoor global championships, so they cannot be overlooked. Great Britain & Northern Ireland, meanwhile, have earned three global bronze medals in the past two years, so will also be keen to challenge again.
World 400m silver medallist Natalia Kaczmarek and 2018 European champion Justyna Swiety-Ersetic feature on Poland’s team, but both have also been selected for the mixed event.
Canada has been quietly consistent in recent years, placing fourth at the past three global championships. Although they’ve missed out on medals, they consistently outperform their pre-event form on paper.
Belgium has been creeping ever closer to a global championships podium finish, placing seventh at the Tokyo Olympics, sixth at the 2022 World Championships, fifth at the 2023 edition, and fourth at the recent World Indoor Championships.
Other teams to look out for include African Games champions Nigeria, France and India.
Jon Mulkeen for World Athletics
