2004 Olympic 4x100m relay fnal men

Great Britain shock the Athletics world by winning the final by a hair's breadth as Mark Lewis-Francis holds off Maurice Greene after the USA had flunked their chances with a poor baton change.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• 100m
• relay
• Greene
• Lewis-Francis
• Campbell
• Devonish

[pondguard22]

I love watching this video then re-reading all the comments. "If Greene had more to run" this and "If USA had 3 clean changes" that. Bitter pill to swallow isn't it?! Which we could actually get some tips from Justin Gatlin about........

[dude356541]

Ah this was one of my all time favourite Olympic moments. It made me so proud to be British. Great race!

[pondguard22]

@andersonec1 It really doesn't end up that way in reality. If your palm is facing down, the upsweep from the incoming runner results in you grabbing the baton at the top with the rest of it protruding down from your hand. I've been doing relays for almost 20 years and palm up is safer as if it falls, it falls into your hand and when the baton is passed, it is gripped at the bottom every time. You could not be more wrong, sorry. Watch the Jamaican WR slo-mo and see why.

[CarlAndrewEvans]

13 dislikes must be american

[andersonec1]

You need to try this in to see. Palm down, thumb out makes a 'V' it 'cannot' slip, it falls into the 'V' made by the thumb and first finger every time, when the baton is taken and the hand brought forward the baton faces forward ready for hand over, no adjustment needed it is always taken at the front end not half way. Also takes all the strain from the shoulder as the arm is held at a lower angle this makes for a better sprint action. It is a slick safe handover which absolutely does not fail.

[pondguard22]

@andersonec1 Maybe for anchor leg upsweep may be better, but downsweep is safer for first 2 as it doesn't require moving the baton before changing over. More chance of dropping it if your hand is facing down also.

[andersonec1]

It could happen again if they changed their baton exchange technique. The receiver must have his hand palm down with the thumb pointing outwards, this makes for a failsafe, quick handover, I could expand on the benefits but they don't listen.

[cooljub]

I love this race, can't wait for the summer!

[AlexHWalker]

Imagine if something as miraculous as this would happen next year.

[welshrocker01]

I watched this live and I was standing up yelling at the TV ''Move it Mark MOVE MOVE MOVE - OH SHIT....HE'S COMING.....OOOOOHHHHHHHH MARK YOU BEAUTY!!!!'' - most exciting relay race I've ever seen and a great GB sporting moment - up there with 4x400m Tokyo 1991

[pidgeblev]

@1482abcd Wise up lol