ROAD TO RIO
IN A CONTINUING SERIES, STEVE SMYTHE LOOKS AT THE HISTORY OF EVENTS AT THE OLYMPICS – AND THIS WEEK IT’S THE WOMEN’S RELAYS
1928-2012
WHILE the 4x400m would have to wait 44 more years, the 4x100m debuted in Amsterdam in 1928 along with the other first women’s events.
With the second and third from the individual race, Canada proved too strong for the Americans and they won easily in 48.4 as the first four bettered the previous mark of 49.8.
That mark stayed as the record until Los Angeles in 1932 when again the first four broke the old record.
It was closer this time, though, as USA edged Canada with 46.9 to their rival’s 47.0.
In Berlin in 1936, the hosts were big favourites and they improved their own world record of 46.5 to 46.4 in the heats.
Watched by Adolf Hitler, they were well clear in the final at the last changeover, but their anchor, Ilse Dorlfedt, dropped the baton.
USA, with 1928 100m champion Elizabeth Robinson in the team, won the gold medal with the same winning time as four years earlier.
Seoul 1988: Russia vs USA in the 4x400m
Twelve years later, the Germans’ heat time remained the world and Olympic record and it wasn’t even remotely challenged in London in 1948.
Taking the baton in fourth place, Netherlands’ Fanny Blankers-Koen burst through to win her fourth gold medal of the Games in a time of 47.5.
Germany’s 16-year-old world record finally fell at Helsinki in 1952 as Australia ran 46.1 in the first heat. However, in the final, they could only finish fifth as they messed up the final relay changeover in the race.
The gold went to USA’s 45.9, with the team including the youngest ever track gold medallist, 15-year-old Barbara Jones.
Germany shared the winning time. Australia again broke the world record in the heats in Melbourne in 1956 with a time of 44.9, but this time they improved in the final to win in 44.5.