At the Paris Olympics, several American athletes excelled while others faced significant challenges. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Alexis Holmes contributed to the U.S. women's 4x400m relay team's gold medal and Olympic record. Rai Benjamin's anchoring secured the men's 4x400m relay gold and an Olympic record, with Botswana and Great Britain taking silver and bronze, respectively. Conversely, the U.S. men's 4x100m relay team was disqualified for a botched baton exchange, continuing a decades-long pattern of mishaps. The disqualification sparked strong criticism from track legends Carl Lewis and Michael Johnson, who called for systemic changes in USA Track and Field's coaching approach.