USA wins the Men's 4x100m Relay Final (© Getty Images)
Since the inception of this event at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics the USA has never failed to win gold in two successive Games, but faces a huge threat to that proud record in Beijing.
Four years ago in Athens, Great Britain created a shock by defeating the USA – but it could be Jamaica who pose the chief danger to America in China.
Boasting world 100m record holder Usain Bolt and his predecessor Asafa Powell in their ranks they are likely to prove a formidable unit. Throw in sub-10 second performers like Michael Frater and Nesta Carter, too, then Jamaica has a great opportunity to land their first ever men’s Olympic 4x100m gold.
The USA, though, will be desperate to regain their title. World champion Tyson Gay will be expected to be the fulcrum of a team supported by the likes of Walter Dix, Darvis Patton and Travis Padgett.
Trinidad and Tobago relay should not be underestimated after setting a national record of 38.00 for second behind the USA in London last month. They boast two sub-10 men in Richard Thompson (9.93) and Marc Burns (9.97) as well as 2003 World Championships 100m silver medallist Darrel Brown.
Marlon Devonish is the only survivor from the Great Britain team which struck Olympic gold four years ago but with the likes of Simeon Williamson (10.03), Tyrone Edgar (10.06) and Craig Pickering (10.19) in their ranks they have to be respected.
Brazil finished fourth at last summer’s World Championships and are another danger while Germany sit fourth in the world rankings with 38.48. Watch out too for France, the 2005 world champions, Japan, who finished fifth at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, and Nigeria, the 2004 Olympic bronze medallists.
Steve Landells for the IAAF
