The USA, Jamaica and Brazil had the most success as the first places in the athletics relay competitions at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games were won over the weekend (May 2-3). According to IAAF, the three nations all qualified teams in each of the four Olympic relay events – the men’s 4x100m and 4x400m; and women’s 4x100m and 4x400m – at the IAAF World Relays championship in Nassau, the Bahamas.

The big surprise came in the 4x100m on Saturday (2 May) night when Jamaica – anchored by Usain Bolt – finished second to the USA. Although all eight finalists in each event confirmed their presence in Rio, pride was at stake between the two powerhouses of the sport. The US quartet of Mike Rodgers, Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay and Ryan Bailey won in 37.38, three tenths of a second ahead of the Jamaican team of Bolt, Kemar Bailey-Cole, Nesta Carter and Nickel Ashmeade. Bolt managed to reduce the US lead by about one metre in the final leg, but the damage had already been done. Japan took a slightly unexpected bronze.

The USA’s men also took gold in the 4x400m on Sunday (3 May) night, overcoming a vociferously backed Bahamas team to win in 2:58.43. The home fans cheered loudest when Steven Gardiner briefly overtook Jeremy Wariner on the third leg, but the experienced American edged back in front and Beijing 2008 Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt held off local hero Chris Brown in the final leg, with Belgium in third.

US dominance was also evident in the women’s 4x400m final on Sunday (3 May), in which the Americans broke their own competition record to successfully defend their title. London 2012 400m champion Sanya Richards-Ross ran a crucial third leg in the highly impressive time of 48.79. Jamaica were second and Great Britain finished third.

The top-two positions were reversed later on in the women’s 4x100m final, as Jamaica beat slight favourites the USA to take gold in 42.14. Two-time Olympic 200m champion Veronica Campbell-Brown caught Carmelita Jeter with 50m to go, with Great Britain again finishing third.

There will be a maximum of 16 teams per relay event at the Rio 2016 Games, with each nation allowed one team per event. The remaining eight places in each event will be awarded according to the rankings at the end of the qualification period, in July 2016. Qualification is now open in all athletics events.

Qualifiers for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games from the 2015 IAAF World Relays championship:

Men’s 4x100m:
USA
Jamaica
Japan
Brazil
France
St Kitts & Nevis
Trinidad & Tobago
Germany

Men’s 4x400m:
USA
Bahamas
Belgium
Jamaica
Brazil
Great Britain
Trinidad & Tobago
Botswana

Women’s 4x100m:
Jamaica
USA
Great Britain
Canada
Trinidad & Tobago
Brazil
Nigeria
Switzerland

Women’s 4x400m:
USA
Jamaica
Great Britain
France
Poland
Canada
Australia
Brazil

Rio2016.com is not an absolute authority on qualification for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which is an ongoing process. Final places will only be confirmed in July 2016 (for the Olympic Games) and August 2016 (for the Paralympic Games). The qualification systems are defined by each sport’s respective International Federation and the International Olympic Committee or International Paralympic Committee, and are subject to change. When an athlete or team wins a quota place for their nation, the final decision on whether this ‘slot’ is used and which athletes are sent is taken by the respective National Olympic Committee or National Paralympic Committee (NOC or NPC). Even when athletes win a ‘nominal’ place for themselves, NOCs/NPCs may have to decide who to send if the number of qualified athletes from one country exceeds the quota.