Overview

• Botswana took gold in 2:57.76, becoming the first African nation to win the men’s 4x400m at a World Championships.
• The United States and South Africa shared 2:57.83 officially, with silver awarded to the U.S. by 0.002 after photo-finish timing in heavy rain.
• Lythe Pillay, Udeme Okon, Wayde van Niekerk and Zakithi Nene delivered South Africa’s podium, ending a world medal drought that stretched back to London 2017.
• Van Niekerk clocked the fastest split of the race at about 43.26 on the third leg, with Nene closing in 43.93 to secure third.
• South Africa’s Olympic silver 4x100m quartet were eliminated in a referee-ordered solo time trial, needing 38.34 but running 38.64, and the team left Tokyo with one bronze as the U.S. topped the medal table.