Teams to watch out for at the World Athletics Relays

The world's best relay teams head to Botswana for the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 on 2-3 May, when they will compete for titles, prize money and qualification for the World Athletics Ultimate Championship and the World Athletics Championships Beijing 27.

With just two weeks to go until the global relays extravaganza, we shine the spotlight on eight of the teams to watch out for.

Belgium

Belgium has become a powerful force in the 4x400m. The nation’s teams – frequently featuring multiple members of the Borlée family and more recently anchored by Alexander Doom – reached the men’s 4x400m podium at four of the past five editions of the World Indoor Championships, including wins in 2022 and 2024, as well as at the outdoor World Championships in Doha and Oregon, and at last year’s World Relays. Belgium also won the inaugural world indoor mixed 4x400m title in March, running the fastest ever indoor time, after clinching world bronze in Tokyo. 

Botswana

The host nation will want to put on a show in Gaborone, particularly in the men’s 4x400m – an event in which the nation has clinched two Olympic medals and a world title. It was in Tokyo last year that Lee Bhekempilo Eppie, Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori and Collen Kebinatshipi combined to claim the world crown, clocking 2:57.76 to pip USA. Botswana also holds the African record of 2:54.53, set when securing silver at the Paris Olympics, and will want to build on their World Relays win from 2024 and third-place finish in 2025. 

Canada

Only one nation has won more than one men’s 4x100m medal across the past three editions of the Olympic Games and that’s Canada – medallists at all three. After bronze in Rio, the team of Aaron Brown, Jerome Blake, Brendon Rodney and Andre De Grasse combined to secure silver in Tokyo and gold in Paris, and that quartet also got world silver behind USA in Tokyo last year. The mixed 4x100m made its global debut at the World Relays in Guangzhou last year and Canada won that, too. 

Great Britain & NI

Great Britain & NI was the only nation to claim medals in all five relay events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The quartet of Dina Asher-Smith, Imani-Lara Lansiquot, Amy Hunt and Daryll Neita provided the top performance as they secured silver in the women’s 4x100m to go with the bronze medals won by their teammates in the men’s, women’s and mixed 4x400m, and the men’s 4x100m. Great Britain’s 4x100m women also topped the podium at the last edition of the World Relays where their mixed 4x100m team finished third. 

Jamaica

Jamaica's sprinting pedigree is evident in its formidable relay record, particularly in the 4x100m. The women's team won Olympic gold in 2004 and 2021, and have earned multiple world titles, while owning six of the 10 fastest performances in history. The men's team, meanwhile, holds the world record, set during the golden era of Usain Bolt, when Jamaica secured two Olympic and four world titles. Jamaica has also enjoyed considerable success in the 4x400m, especially in the women's event, with medals at almost every global championships this century, underlining their consistency. 

Netherlands

The Netherlands has emerged as one of the most consistent relay nations in recent years, particularly in the 4x400m. Dutch teams have reached the podium across women's, men's and mixed relays at numerous global and continental championships, highlighted by mixed 4x400m gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics and world indoor titles for the women. Much of that success has been driven by standout performers such as Femke Bol, whose closing speed has become a defining feature of Dutch relay squads. With strength across all formats, the Netherlands has developed into a genuine multi-event relay powerhouse.

South Africa

South Africa has developed into a major relay contender, particularly in the men's events. The nation was the standout team at the 2025 World Relays, winning the men's 4x100m and 4x400m and adding a podium finish in the women's 4x400m, while Olympic silver in the men's 4x100m in 2024 confirmed their global credentials. Athletes such as Akani Simbine have been central to that rise, combining raw speed with improving relay execution. With medals across both sprint relays and increasing depth in the 4x400m, South Africa continues to strengthen its presence on the world stage. 

United States

No nation has dominated global relay running quite like the United States, winning more than half of all Olympic, world and world indoor relay titles and reaching the podium in almost three-quarters of them. Their strength is built on the 4x400m, where US teams have claimed more than 60 titles across Olympic and World Championships competition alone. The sprint powerhouse also holds world records in the men's 4x400m, women's 4x100m and mixed 4x400m, underlining their dominance across disciplines. From legends like Allyson Felix to successive generations of stars, US teams combine depth, speed and experience, making them strong medal favourites in most relays.