Justin Gatlin Explains Team USA’s Biggest 4x100m Relay Problem, How Kenny Bednarek, Noah Lyles Can Work Together

Former Olympic champion Justin Gatlin believes the United States’ men’s 4x100m relay fortunes at next month’s Tokyo World Championships hinge on two things — more practice and a set, unshakable lineup.

For decades, the US men’s relay 4 x 100m team has disappointed at major championships, including at the Paris Olympic Games, where a botched barton exchange between Christian Coleman and Kenny Bednarek in the final automatically disqualified them, leaving them to wait an extra four years to get an Olympic medal in that event.

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Ahead of the upcoming World Championships, where USA  will actually be trying to defend their 2023 title, Gatlin explained what tends to go wrong for the team on his Ready Set Go podcast, and how they can amend that situation.

“The problem is we don’t have enough relay practice,” Gatlin told reporters. “These athletes aren’t used to passing or receiving the stick from people they’re normally competing against. 

“Mentally, they have to drop that rivalry barrier and say, ‘This is my brother-in-arms now — we’ve got to run together.’”

Gatlin believes the solution to the botched exchanges  is simple: pick the squad early, drill them relentlessly, and do not tinker too much, namechking some of Dennis Mitchell’s Star Athletics Club athletes in Christian Coleman, Kenny Bednarek and Courtney Lindsey to be key.

 “With the 40 days before Worlds, they can work on those stick passes until they’re effortless. Most likely, Noah Lyles anchors, so the focus is on making that third-to-fourth handoff as clean as possible. That’s your final team.”

He added that having a relay camp — “and I hope they have one” — would allow for tactical flexibility without disrupting the core chemistry.

 “You can try Trayvon Bromell on the second leg or T’Mars McCallum on third, and switch them around. But you always keep the security of knowing exactly what your final quartet looks like.”

That chemistry could face an early test. Bednarek and Lyles, both near-certainties for the Tokyo relay squad, made headlines after a fiery 200m showdown at the USATF Trials in Eugene. 

Lyles stormed to a world-leading 19.63, with Bednarek just 0.04 seconds behind in 19.67. As they crossed the line, Lyles turned toward Bednarek, made eye contact, and delivered a physical nudge — a gesture that sparked an animated post-race exchange and a storm of fan debate online.

While the moment added spice to their individual rivalry, it also underscored Gatlin’s point: personal battles must be set aside when wearing the USA vest. “It’s about trust,” Gatlin said. “When you’re running the relay, it doesn’t matter who beat who yesterday. You’re working toward the same gold medal.”

As the countdown to Tokyo ticks, all eyes will be on whether the U.S. can finally produce a flawless 4x100m — and whether two of its fastest men can channel their competitive fire into perfect baton chemistry.