Tokyo World Athletics Championships 2025: Redemption and Rivalries for the Women’s 4x400m Relay Showdown in Tokyo

By: Denise N. Fyffe

The women’s 4×400 metres relay at the Tokyo World Championships promises to be one of the most emotional and fiercely contested events on the track. After heartbreak for the United States in Budapest, a resurgent Dutch squad powered by Femke Bol, and the rise of new European challengers, the event is shaping up to be a thrilling showdown of redemption and supremacy.

United States: Aiming for Redemption

The U.S. team enters Tokyo with unfinished business. At the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, they were sensationally disqualified for a baton pass outside the takeover zone—a stunning blow for a nation that has historically dominated the event.

This year’s lineup is stacked with star power: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, double Olympic champion in the 400m hurdles and now focusing on the flat 400m, joins Aaliyah Butler, Isabella Whittaker, Alexis Holmes, Britton Wilson, and Lynna Irby-Jackson. Holmes, Wilson, and Irby-Jackson were part of the squad that set the world seasonal lead of 3:23.24, showing their form is peaking at the right time.

McLaughlin-Levrone and Holmes are also Olympic champions from Paris, adding championship pedigree to an already formidable team. For the U.S., this is not just a race—it is a shot at redemption.

Netherlands: The Team to Beat

The Dutch team shocked the world in Budapest 2023 when Femke Bol, one of the sport’s brightest stars, anchored them to the world title, holding off Jamaica and Great Britain in dramatic fashion. With Bol and Lieke Klaver returning, the Netherlands will be determined to defend their crown.

The pair also led the Dutch squad to European Indoor gold in Apeldoorn, clocking 3:24.34. With Bol in peak form after a dominant hurdles season, the Netherlands cannot be underestimated—they are chasing nothing less than another gold.

Great Britain: Consistent Medal Threats

Great Britain has emerged as a consistent contender in recent years, and Tokyo offers another chance to stand on the podium. Their team features Amber Anning, Nicole Yeargin, and Victoria Ohuruogu, all of whom anchored the squad to Olympic bronze in Paris (3:19.72).

The British quartet also claimed European Indoor silver in Apeldoorn, reinforcing their reputation for tactical and consistent relay running. With depth across the 400m, they will once again push the Americans and Dutch for top honors.

New Challengers: Spain, South Africa, Norway, and Italy

The Spanish team enters Tokyo as World Relays champions, having stunned the field in Guangzhou with a national record of 3:24.13, finishing ahead of the United States. Their win has given them confidence that they can challenge the traditional powerhouses.

South Africa took bronze at the World Relays in 3:24.84, while Norway, led by the versatile Henriette Jaeger, clocked a national record of 3:25.35 to finish fourth. Italy also impressed with a strong fifth-place finish in Guangzhou (3:26.40) and has the potential to break into the final in Tokyo.

The Battle Ahead

With the U.S. seeking redemption, the Netherlands defending their crown, and Great Britain chasing another medal, the women’s 4x400m relay is expected to deliver one of the most memorable races of the championships. Add in Spain’s breakthrough, South Africa’s rising strength, and Norway’s record-setting squad, and this event has all the ingredients of a thriller.

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About the writer: Denise N. Fyffe is a publisher and author for more than 15 years. She has written more than 70 books and enjoys mentoring, gardening, and traveling. She is also a trainer and educator, helping others to achieve their dreams.