The United States maintained their iron grip on the Olympic women’s 4x400 metres relay on Saturday when they held off Jamaica for their sixth straight victory in the event to give anchor Allyson Felix her sixth career gold.
The US finished in 3 minutes 19.06 seconds. Jamaica took silver in 3:20.34 and Britain the bronze in 3:25.88.
“It’s really special,” said four-time Olympian Felix who had started the Games somewhat frustrated after missing out on qualification for the 200m.
The conclusion of her fourth Olympics — she made her debut at the Athens 2004 Games — left Felix reflecting on her career with satisfaction.
“I can look back on the things that I’ve accomplished and really be proud and really grateful for what track and field has brought to my life. And really be grateful for what track and field has brought to my life. I’m really passionate about it and it’s brought me a lot of joy.”
Her teammate Courtney Okolo set the stage for the win by grabbing the lead in the opening stage and the US never relinquished it, pushed by Jamaica but well clear of the rest of the field by the halfway point.
Felix held off a late challenge by Jamaica’s Novlene Wiliams-Mills to claim her third medal of the Rio Olympics having won gold in the 4x100m relay and silver in the individual 400m.
The US gold streak in the event started at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
“It’s amazing to come together with these women tonight and be able to finish it off,” Felix said. “It was a good night.”
Natasha Hastings and Phyllis Francis rounded out the US team.
Jamaica’s silver was their fifth straight medal in the event, following silver in 2000 and bronze in 2004, 2008 and 2012 while Britain claimed their first medal since 1992.
Felix now has more Olympic golds than any other woman track and field athlete in history.
“It’s amazing to come together with these women tonight and to be able to finish it off. It was a good night,” Felix said.
The relay golds offset the disappointment of an individual season disrupted by a freak ankle injury after a gym accident.
That setback left her scrambling to regain full fitness, ending her hopes of a 200m-400m double in Rio.
She suffered an agonising defeat in the final of the 400m and failed to qualify for the 200m after missing out at the US trials.

Felix eyes London
Asked to assess her season, she replied: “The toughest without a doubt. You make plans and you want things to go to a certain schedule — and nothing went according to the schedule.
“But that’s okay, it’s about growth and character and I think I learned a lot of lessons throughout this Olympic Games.”
Her medal collection will remain with her parents though.
“They like to show them off. I let them do that,” she said.
Felix expects to race once more in Europe this year before turning her attention to the World Championships in London next August when she will be 31.
She would not be drawn on the possibility of returning for a fifth Olympics in 2020. “London is next on the agenda,” she said. “As far as the next four years — I’m just taking it year by year. I think that I probably have one more race this season, maybe in Zurich.”
The relay win was the latest in a a 20-year unbeaten reign in the event for the United States.
They have not lost a 4x400m relay since finishing in silver behind the unified team of former Soviet Union states at the 1992 Barcelona Games.

Leading gold medallists in athletics
Nine
*Paavo Nurmi, Finland (1920-28): 10,000 metres (2), individual cross country (2), team cross country (2), 5,000m, 1,500m, 3,000m team.
*Carl Lewis, United States (1984-96): Long jump (4), 100m (2), 4x100m relay (2), 200m.
*Usain Bolt, Jamaica (2008-16): 100m (3), 200m (3) 4x100m relay (3).

Eight
*Ray Ewry, United States (1900-08): Standing long jump (3), standing high jump (3), standing triple jump (2).
(Note: Ewry holds the record for the most individual athletics golds).

Six
*Allyson Felix, United States (2008-16): 4x100m relay (2), 4x400m relay (3), 200m.