The most track and field medals won by the United States at a single Olympic Games was 35 at the Berlin 1932 Olympic Games. Courtney Okolo ran the first leg, followed by Natasha Hastings and Phyllis Francis.
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Jamaica took silver and Britain got bronze.
McCorory also won Olympic gold in the 4×400 in London in 2012. This year, she ran the third leg Friday as the USA won its semifinal.
Merritt split 43.9 as the U.S. finished 2:57.30. The Jamaicans brought the baton home 0.86 of a second later.
Defending champion the Bahamas took bronze in 2:58.49.
LaShawn Merritt, Gil Roberts, Tony McQuay and Arman Hall celebrate after winning gold in the men’s 4×400-meter at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 20, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.
It is the fourth Olympic medal of the 34-year-old Williams-Mills’ career, all of which have come in the 4×400 relay.
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McQuay was the only holdover from the USA 4x400m team that won the silver medal at the 2012 Olympics. Bouncing back from disappointment in London, the US has since won back-to-back world titles, setting themselves up as event favorites in Rio.
