U.S. Relay Teams Shine in Rain-Soaked Tokyo Finale as Fraser-Pryce Bids Emotional Farewell

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TOKYO — The stars came out for one last golden night in Tokyo — and so did the rain. But neither could dampen the American sprint squads, who stormed through the puddles to claim three gold medals on the final day of the World Athletics Championships. At the heart of the action was Sha’Carri Richardson, who bounced back from individual disappointment to anchor a clutch win in the women’s 4x100-meter relay. For Richardson, it was redemption. For Noah Lyles and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, it was a fitting exclamation point on dominant seasons. And for the legendary Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, it was the end of an era — a silver medal and a standing ovation in her final world championship appearance.

Richardson Rallies for Gold

The U.S. women’s 4x100 team delivered under pressure — and under heavy rain. After a rocky individual 100m campaign that saw her finish fifth, Richardson was back in her familiar anchor spot. When she took the baton from Kayla White, the Americans were 0.01 seconds behind. But Richardson needed just a few powerful strides to reclaim the lead. She surged ahead of Jamaica’s Jonielle Smith and held strong to the line, clocking 41.75 seconds — enough for a razor-thin 0.04-second victory. "I felt like I ran with my heart because of the ladies I'm standing with," Richardson said. "I feel really good. It came back. I'm ready to start all over again." It was a full-circle moment for Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, who ran the lead leg and now becomes the first woman to sweep the 100m, 200m, and 4x100 relay at a single World Championships since Fraser-Pryce in 2013. It was also symbolic: Jefferson-Wooden and her teammates are poised to step into the void Fraser-Pryce leaves behind.

Fraser-Pryce's Emotional Goodbye

There wasn’t a dry eye in the stadium as Fraser-Pryce, affectionately dubbed the “Mommy Rocket,” took her final bow. Her 17th world championship medal — silver — bookended a career that began with another silver back in 2007 in Osaka. "No emotions right now," Fraser-Pryce said. "Just grateful to be able to finish this race. It's been such a remarkable moment." U.S. runners lined up to thank her — including Jefferson-Wooden, who called her a “trailblazer for women’s sprinting.”

Lyles, McLaughlin-Levrone Keep Golds Coming

In the men’s 4x100, Noah Lyles added another gold to his collection in an unusually smooth — even anticlimactic — relay for the often error-prone American men. “This might be the first time we didn’t have any drama,” Lyles joked after anchoring the team to a clean win in 37.38 seconds. “They made sure the handoffs were clean… it's a great feeling because you know that the job has been done.” Lyles ends the meet with two golds and a bronze, continuing his dominance in the sprints. Meanwhile, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone ran a commanding anchor in the women’s 4x400, turning a sizeable lead into a dominant 3:16.61 finish — a championship record. It capped a stellar week that included her barrier-breaking 47.78 in the individual 400m. With the Soviet-era world record of 3:15.17 from 1988 still intact, McLaughlin-Levrone hinted that its days are numbered. "We're getting closer and closer," she said. "It’s going to come eventually. Tonight, we’re happy to walk away with the gold.”

Botswana Stuns in Men’s 4x400

The only blemish on the U.S. relay finale came in the men's 4x400, where Rai Benjamin was outkicked in the final 50 meters by Botswana’s Collen Kebinatshipi. The African nation earned a historic first relay gold with a national record of 2:57.76, edging the U.S. by just 0.07 seconds. Benjamin, who earlier won gold in the 400m hurdles, had no excuses. “They ran a hell of a race,” he said. “We’ll be back.”

U.S. Leaves Tokyo with 26 Medals

The Americans finish the championships with 26 total medals — matching their tally from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics but doubling their gold count (16). After early week stumbles, the final night was a thunderous reminder that Team USA remains a sprinting powerhouse, rain or shine. As Paris and the LA 2028 Olympics loom, a new generation — led by Richardson, Lyles, and McLaughlin-Levrone — seems more than ready to carry the torch forward.