42 The 4x400m Relay

These are the official results of the Men's 4x400 metres event at the 1991 IAAF World Championships in Tokyo, Japan. There were a total number of sixteen participating nations, with three qualifying heats and the final held on Sunday September 1, 1991. The final, won by Great Britain in what was, at the time, the 2nd fastest time in history, is regarded as one of the biggest upsets in Athletics. Going into the meeting, the USA 4x400m team hadn't lost at a major championships in over 7 years. Britain, by contrast, hadn't won a gold medal in the event since the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
As a result the USA were extremely confident that they would win with ease. However, the British team made a tactical change just 10 minutes before the race, switching Roger Black, usually the anchor leg runner, to the first leg. The move paid off, and going into the final leg, the USA held only a small lead. Kriss Akabusi, running the anchor leg for GB, overtook the individual 400m Champion, Antonio Pettigrew on the home straight to win. The USA team were so shocked by the result, that even on the medal podium, they were still in disbelief at the result. Indeed, television footage immediately after the race, showed Pettigrew stood, hands on hips, shaking his head at the outcome of the race.

[@jeffallinson8089]

Bloody fantastic!!

[@uhegbu]

I was ten years old at the time and one of my earliest memories of athletics.