| | Event type

4 × 400 metres Relay, Men

Date	6 – 7 August 2021
Status	Olympic
Location	Japan National Stadium, Kasumigaoka, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Participants	71 from 16 countries

The United States was favored as they had the fastest set of one-lap runners, Track & Field News noting that they had “too much firepower.” Other contenders were expected to be Jamaica and Belgium, the latter led by the Borlée brothers. As the last men’s race of the Olympics, the USA had some incentive to win as they had not won an individual running event at Tokyo, the first time that had ever happened at the Olympics.

The heats were extremely fast as all eight qualifiers bettered 3 minutes, the first time that had ever happened at a major meet. In the final Michael Cherry led off for the USA but Botswana’s Isaac Makwala led at the end of the first lap, recording a 43.9 leg, with Cherry and the United States second, and Trinidad & Tobago’s Deon Lendore third.

Michael Norman ran the second leg for the USA, and pulled ahead on the final curve, opening up a three-metre lead on the baton pass to Bryce Deadmon. Deadmon ran the fastest third leg, 44.01, and gave the USA a safe six-metre lead as he passed to 400 hurdler Rai Benjamin for the anchor. Benjamin had no challenges but still ran 43.40, the fastest leg of the race, as the United States won gold in 2:55.70, the fourth fastest mark all-time.

Behind the USA the times were also fast, and a close battle brought the Netherlands home for the silver medal with a national record 2:57.18, with Botswana taking bronze, and Belgium ran a national record 2:57.88 to finish fourth. Botswana had run 2:57.27, both a national and African record.

Pos	Competitors	NOC	R1	Final
1	United States	USA	2:57.77 (1 h1)	2:55.70 (1)	Gold
	Michael Cherry • Michael Norman • Bryce Deadmon • Rai Benjamin • Trevor Stewart • Randolph Ross • Vernon Norwood
2	Netherlands	NED	2:59.06 (5 h1)	2:57.18 (2)	Silver
	Liemarvin Bonevacia • Terrence Agard • Tony van Diepen • Ramsey Angela • Jochem Dobber • Nout Wardenburg (DNS)
3	Botswana	BOT	2:58.33 (2 h1)	2:57.27 (3)	Bronze
	Isaac Makwala • Baboloki Thebe • Zibani Ngozi • Bayapo Ndori • Leungo Scotch (DNS)
4	Belgium	BEL	2:59.37 (3 h2)	2:57.88 (4)
	Alexander Doom • Jonathan Sacoor • Dylan Borlée • Kévin Borlée • Jonathan Borlée
5	Poland	POL	2:58.55 (1 h2)	2:58.46 (5)
	Dariusz Kowaluk • Karol Zalewski • Mateusz Rzeźniczak • Kajetan Duszyński • Jakub Krzewina • Wiktor Suwara (DNS)
6	Jamaica	JAM	2:59.29 (2 h2)	2:58.76 (6)
	Demish Gaye • Christopher Taylor • Jaheel Hyde • Nathon Allen • Karayme Bartley • Sean Bailey (DNS)
7	Italy	ITA	2:58.91 (4 h1)	2:58.81 (7)
	Davide Re • Vladimir Aceti • Edoardo Scotti • Alessandro Sibilio • Lorenzo Benati (DNS) • Matteo Galvan (DNS) • Giuseppe Leonardi (DNS)
8	Trinidad and Tobago	TTO	2:58.60 (3 h1)	3:00.85 (8)
	Deon Lendore • Jereem Richards • Dwight St. Hillaire • Machel Cedenio • Asa Guevara (DNS)
4 h2 r1/2	India	IND	3:00.25 (4 h2)	–
	Mohammad Anas Yahiya • Noah Nirmal Tom • Arokia Rajiv • Amoj Jacob • Naganathan Pandi (DNS)
5 h2 r1/2	Japan	JPN	3:00.76 (5 h2)	–
	Rikuya Ito • Kaito Kawabata • Kentaro Sato • Aoto Suzuki • Julian Walsh (DNS)
6 h1 r1/2	Great Britain	GBR	3:03.29 (6 h1)	–
	Cameron Chalmers • Joe Brier • Lee Thompson • Michael Ohioze • Niclas Baker (DNS)
6 h2 r1/2	France	FRA	3:00.81 (6 h2)	–
	Thomas Jordier • Muhammad Kounta • Ludovic Oucéni • Gilles Biron • Mame-Ibra Anne (DNS)
7 h1 r1/2	Czech Republic	CZE	3:03.61 (7 h1)	–
	Patrik Šorm • Pavel Maslák • Michal Desenský • Vít Müller • Jan Tesař (DNS)
7 h2 r1/2	South Africa	RSA	3:01.18 (7 h2)	–
	Lythe Pillay • Zakithi Nene • Ranti Dikgale • Thapelo Phora • Wayde van Niekerk (DNS)
8 h1 r1/2	Germany	GER	3:03.62 (8 h1)	–
	Marvin Schlegel • Luke Campbell • Jean Paul Bredau • Manuel Sanders • Torben Junker (DNS) • Tobias Lange (DNS)
8 h2 r1/2	Colombia	COL	3:03.20 (8 h2)	–
	Jhon Perlaza • Diego Palomeque • Raúl Mena • Jhon Alexander Solís • Anthony Zambrano (DNS)

Round One

Date	6 August 2021 — 20:25
Format	Top three in each heat and next two fastest advanced to the final.

Heat #1

Time	20:25

Pos	Lane	Competitors	NOC	Time (Automatic)	Reaction Time	Split Rank	Exchange
1	7	United States	USA	2:57.77	0.180	–	– (–)	Q
Lead-Off	3970	Trevor Stewart		44.7	–	1	– (–)
2nd-Leg	3964	Randolph Ross		44.5	–	3	1:29.35 (1)
3rd-Leg	3919	Bryce Deadmon		44.08	–	1	2:13.43 (1)
Anchor	3959	Vernon Norwood		44.34	–	4	– (–)
2	9	Botswana	BOT	2:58.33	0.200	–	– (–)	Q
Lead-Off	1270	Isaac Makwala		44.9	–	3	– (–)
2nd-Leg	1275	Baboloki Thebe		44.8	–	4	1:29.77 (2)
3rd-Leg	1272	Zibani Ngozi		44.61	–	4	2:14.38 (4)
Anchor	1271	Bayapo Ndori		43.95	–	1	– (–)
3	3	Trinidad and Tobago	TTO	2:58.60	0.193	–	– (–)	Q
Lead-Off	3633	Deon Lendore		44.8	–	2	– (–)
2nd-Leg	3634	Jereem Richards		45.0	–	5	1:29.89 (5)
3rd-Leg	3625	Machel Cedenio		44.42	–	2	2:14.31 (2)
Anchor	3635	Dwight St. Hillaire		44.29	–	3	– (–)
4	4	Italy	ITA	2:58.91	0.144	–	– (–)	q
Lead-Off	2439	Alessandro Sibilio		45.3	–	4	– (–)
2nd-Leg	2413	Vladimir Aceti		44.5	–	2	1:29.85 (3)
3rd-Leg	2438	Edoardo Scotti		44.51	–	3	2:14.36 (3)
Anchor	2437	Davide Re		44.55	–	5	– (–)
5	2	Netherlands	NED	2:59.06	0.178	–	– (–)	q
Lead-Off	3019	Jochem Dobber		45.5	–	5	– (–)
2nd-Leg	3012	Terrence Agard		44.3	–	1	1:29.87 (4)
3rd-Leg	3027	Tony van Diepen		44.96	–	5	2:14.83 (5)
Anchor	3013	Ramsey Angela		44.23	–	2	– (–)
6	5	Great Britain	GBR	3:03.29	0.245	–	– (–)
Lead-Off	2040	Cameron Chalmers		45.9	–	7	– (–)
2nd-Leg	2037	Joe Brier		45.9	–	7	1:31.90 (7)
3rd-Leg	2068	Lee Thompson		45.59	–	6	2:17.49 (6)
Anchor	2059	Michael Ohioze		45.80	–	7	– (–)
7	6	Czech Republic	CZE	3:03.61	0.169	–	– (–)
Lead-Off	1638	Patrik Šorm		45.8	–	6	– (–)
2nd-Leg	1636	Pavel Maslák		45.4	–	6	1:31.20 (6)
3rd-Leg	1632	Michal Desenský		46.59	–	8	2:17.79 (7)
Anchor	1637	Vít Müller		45.82	–	8	– (–)
8	8	Germany	GER	3:03.62	0.197	–	– (–)
Lead-Off	2178	Marvin Schlegel		46.5	–	8	– (–)
2nd-Leg	2154	Luke Campbell		46.0	–	8	1:32.55 (8)
3rd-Leg	2153	Jean Paul Bredau		45.96	–	7	2:18.51 (8)
Anchor	2177	Manuel Sanders		45.11	–	6	– (–)

Heat #2

Time	20:37

Pos	Lane	Competitors	NOC	Time (Automatic)	Reaction Time	Split Rank	Exchange
1	8	Poland	POL	2:58.55	0.160	–	– (–)	Q
Lead-Off	3196	Dariusz Kowaluk		45.3	–	2	– (–)
2nd-Leg	3212	Karol Zalewski		43.7	–	1	1:29.10 (1)
3rd-Leg	3198	Jakub Krzewina		45.06	–	5	2:14.16 (2)
Anchor	3191	Kajetan Duszyński		44.39	–	3	– (–)
2	4	Jamaica	JAM	2:59.29	0.188	–	– (–)	Q
Lead-Off	2583	Demish Gaye		45.4	–	4	– (–)
2nd-Leg	2592	Jaheel Hyde		44.9	–	4	1:30.37 (4)
3rd-Leg	2545	Karayme Bartley		44.99	–	4	2:15.36 (3)
Anchor	2537	Nathon Allen		43.93	–	1	– (–)
3	6	Belgium	BEL	2:59.37	0.148	–	– (–)	Q
Lead-Off	1195	Alexander Doom		45.3	–	3	– (–)
2nd-Leg	1201	Jonathan Sacoor		44.1	–	2	1:29.48 (2)
3rd-Leg	1189	Dylan Borlée		44.46	–	1	2:13.94 (1)
Anchor	1190	Jonathan Borlée		45.43	–	7	– (–)
4	2	India	IND	3:00.25	0.138	–	– (–)
Lead-Off	2307	Mohammad Anas Yahiya		45.6	–	5	– (–)
2nd-Leg	2305	Noah Nirmal Tom		45.0	–	6	1:30.73 (6)
3rd-Leg	2301	Arokia Rajiv		44.84	–	2	2:15.57 (4)
Anchor	2298	Amoj Jacob		44.68	–	4	– (–)
5	7	Japan	JPN	3:00.76	0.143	–	– (–)
Lead-Off	2694	Rikuya Ito		45.7	–	6	– (–)
2nd-Leg	2698	Kaito Kawabata		44.8	–	3	1:30.52 (5)
3rd-Leg	2710	Kentaro Sato		45.13	–	6	2:15.65 (5)
Anchor	2713	Aoto Suzuki		45.11	–	6	– (–)
6	5	France	FRA	3:00.81	0.166	–	– (–)
Lead-Off	1960	Thomas Jordier		45.0	–	1	– (–)
2nd-Leg	1961	Muhammad Kounta		45.2	–	7	1:30.25 (3)
3rd-Leg	1971	Ludovic Oucéni		45.56	–	7	2:15.81 (6)
Anchor	1946	Gilles Biron		45.00	–	5	– (–)
7	9	South Africa	RSA	3:01.18	0.151	–	– (–)
Lead-Off	3429	Lythe Pillay		45.7	–	6	– (–)
2nd-Leg	3427	Zakithi Nene		45.5	–	8	1:31.23 (7)
3rd-Leg	3400	Ranti Dikgale		45.96	–	8	2:17.19 (8)
Anchor	3428	Thapelo Phora		43.99	–	2	– (–)
8	3	Colombia	COL	3:03.20	0.164	–	– (–)
Lead-Off	1546	Jhon Perlaza		46.4	–	8	– (–)
2nd-Leg	1545	Diego Palomeque		44.9	–	5	1:31.41 (8)
3rd-Leg	1543	Raúl Mena		44.98	–	3	2:16.39 (7)
Anchor	1549	Jhon Alexander Solís		46.81	–	8	– (–)

Final

Date	7 August 2021 — 21:50

Pos	Lane	Competitors	NOC	Time (Automatic)	Reaction Time	Split Rank	Exchange
1	4	United States	USA	2:55.70	0.185	–	– (–)
Lead-Off	3913	Michael Cherry		44.2	–	2	– (–)
2nd-Leg	3958	Michael Norman		44.0	–	4	1:28.29 (1)
3rd-Leg	3919	Bryce Deadmon		44.01	–	1	2:12.30 (1)
Anchor	3907	Rai Benjamin		43.40	–	1	– (–)
2	2	Netherlands	NED	2:57.18	0.176	–	– (–)
Lead-Off	3015	Liemarvin Bonevacia		45.0	–	–	– (–)
2nd-Leg	3012	Terrence Agard		43.7	–	2	1:28.78 (4)
3rd-Leg	3027	Tony van Diepen		44.28	–	2	2:13.06 (2)
Anchor	3013	Ramsey Angela		44.12	–	2	– (–)
3	7	Botswana	BOT	2:57.27	0.212	–	– (–)
Lead-Off	1270	Isaac Makwala		43.8	–	1	– (–)
2nd-Leg	1275	Baboloki Thebe		44.7	–	8	1:28.67 (2)
3rd-Leg	1272	Zibani Ngozi		44.40	–	3	2:13.07 (3)
Anchor	1271	Bayapo Ndori		44.20	–	4	– (–)
4	9	Belgium	BEL	2:57.88	0.149	–	– (–)
Lead-Off	1195	Alexander Doom		44.9	–	4	– (–)
2nd-Leg	1201	Jonathan Sacoor		44.0	–	5	1:29.02 (6)
3rd-Leg	1189	Dylan Borlée		44.68	–	4	2:13.70 (4)
Anchor	1191	Kévin Borlée		44.18	–	3	– (–)
5	6	Poland	POL	2:58.46	0.157	–	– (–)
Lead-Off	3196	Dariusz Kowaluk		45.0	–	6	– (–)
2nd-Leg	3212	Karol Zalewski		43.6	–	1	1:28.71 (3)
3rd-Leg	3206	Mateusz Rzeźniczak		45.44	–	7	2:14.15 (5)
Anchor	3191	Kajetan Duszyński		44.31	–	6	– (–)
6	5	Jamaica	JAM	2:58.76	0.195	–	– (–)
Lead-Off	2583	Demish Gaye		45.2	–	7	– (–)
2nd-Leg	2634	Christopher Taylor		43.9	–	3	1:29.20 (7)
3rd-Leg	2592	Jaheel Hyde		45.15	–	6	2:14.35 (6)
Anchor	2537	Nathon Allen		44.41	–	7	– (–)
7	3	Italy	ITA	2:58.81	0.161	–	– (–)
Lead-Off	2437	Davide Re		45.2	–	8	– (–)
2nd-Leg	2413	Vladimir Aceti		44.2	–	6	1:29.49 (8)
3rd-Leg	2438	Edoardo Scotti		45.07	–	5	2:14.56 (7)
Anchor	2439	Alessandro Sibilio		44.25	–	5	– (–)
8	8	Trinidad and Tobago	TTO	3:00.85	0.179	–	– (–)
Lead-Off	3633	Deon Lendore		44.3	–	3	– (–)
2nd-Leg	3634	Jereem Richards		44.6	–	7	1:28.98 (5)
3rd-Leg	3635	Dwight St. Hillaire		46.88	–	8	2:15.86 (8)
Anchor	3625	Machel Cedenio		44.99	–	8	– (–)