Gabby Thomas reveals close call in baton exchange with Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone at the Olympics
Gabby Thomas has shed light in the baton handover between her and Sydney McLaughin-Levrone at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the 4x400m relays for team USA.
Team USA’s Olympic gold medalist Gabby Thomas has recently opened up about a near mishap during the baton exchange with Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone in the women’s 4x400m relay at the 2024 Paris Olympics games.
Although the exchange appeared seamless from the stands, Thomas revealed the tension behind the scenes that almost derailed their momentum.
Thomas, who ran the third leg of the relay, shared that she hadn’t had a chance to practice the baton exchange with McLaughlin-Levrone before the race.
“I unfortunately did stumble,” Thomas admitted. “That was my first time ever doing an exchange with Sydney, and I didn’t realize how she was going to be coming in that fast. There is nobody in the world who can finish a 400m that fast, dude. I had never seen that before in my life,” she revealed on the Why Not Me? podcast
McLaughlin-Levrone’s handover was indeed blazing, as she completed her leg with an incredible 47.70 split.
Starting the race strong, Olympian Shamier Little had already given Team USA an early advantage with a 49.50 split, but McLaughlin-Levrone’s powerful surge extended that lead significantly.
However, the speed at which McLaughlin-Levrone approached Thomas nearly overwhelmed the sprinter.
“She came in so, so hot the distance almost ran me over,” Thomas described
Despite the close call, the duo managed to recover, ensuring a clean handover that allowed Thomas to maintain the lead with a 49.30 split.
Raevyn Holmes then anchored the relay, bringing the team home with a 48.77, securing a gold medal for Team USA.
This victory marked Thomas’s third gold medal at the Paris Games, adding to her triumphs in the women’s 200-meter dash and the women’s 4×100 relay.
