RIO DE JANEIRO — Given the way they celebrated, there aren’t many things that the Jamaican men’s 4x100-meter relay enjoyed more than winning Olympic gold.
If there had to be an icing on the cake though, it came in the form of the USA being disqualified and missing out on the bronze medal.
There is a heated rivalry between the two teams, even with Jamaica having dominated the event at the past three Olympics and Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell had no hesitation at taunting the USA over its missed step.
“I think the Americans are more focused on beating us than running a proper race,” Powell, the Jamaican leadoff man, said. “So yes, it is the pressure of beating Jamaica.”
Bolt, Yohan Blake and Nickel Ashmeade all giggled with delight during Powell’s comments, with Bolt piping up on several occasions.
“Pressure, pressure,” he laughed.
The USA was bumped out of bronze for an infraction during the baton exchange between leadoff Mike Rodgers and second-leg runner Justin Gatlin.
American teams have had notable failures in the 4x100 relay, including disqualification in the Beijing Games for a dropped baton and the stripping of the silver medal from London because of Tyson Gay's doping ban.
