NBC Olympics.com – Gold: United States
Silver: Jamaica
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Bronze: Bahamas
Just minutes after the U.S. women's 4x400m team won the gold medal, LaShawn Merritt crossed the finish line in first place to secure the gold medal for the men's 4x400m team Saturday night in Rio.
The U.S. men finished second to the Bahamas at the 2012 Olympics, but they won six of the previous seven gold medals.
Arman Hall started the relay for the U.S. and passed the baton to Tony McQuay, who handed off to Gil Roberts. Merritt, the 2008 Olympic 400m champion, ran the anchor leg and crossed the finish line in 2 minutes, 57.30 seconds.
Merrrit was a busy man in Rio. He ran seven races over the past nine days, claiming the 400m bronze medal and finishing sixth in the 200m.
McQuay was the only holdover from the U.S. 4x400m team that won the silver medal at the 2012 Olympics. In London, Manteo Mitchell memorably continued to run even after breaking his leg in the opening round.
The other U.S. men's relay team was not as successful in Rio. The 4x100m relay team finished third, but was disqualified because of an illegal baton exchange between Mike Rodgers and Justin Gatlin.