| | Event type

4 x 100 metres Relay, Women

Date	2 – 3 August 1996
Status	Olympic
Location	Centennial Olympic Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
Participants	93 from 22 countries

The United States was the heavy favorite in this race. They had won the last three Olympic gold medals, and the World Championships in 1993 and 1995. With no GDR to worry about by 1996, only Russia, second in both World Championships, was considered a challenger. But the final was much closer than expected. Russia’s Yekaterina Leshchova led on the opening leg. The 100 metre gold medalist, Gail Devers, ran the second leg but could not get ahead of Chandra Sturrup of the Bahamas. On the third leg, Inger Miller pulled ahead and Gwen Torrence anchored the US home to the gold medal. Miller was the daughter of Jamaican sprinter, Lennox Miller, who had won Olympic medals in the 1968 and 1972 100 metres.

Pos	Nr	Team	NOC	R1	Final
1	–	United States	USA	42.49 (1 h1)	41.95 (1)	Gold
		Chryste Gaines • Gail Devers • Inger Miller • Gwen Torrence • Carlette Guidry-White
2	–	The Bahamas	BAH	43.14 (2 h1)	42.14 (2)	Silver
		Eldece Clarke • Chandra Sturrup • Savatheda Fynes • Pauline Davis • Debbie Ferguson
3	–	Jamaica	JAM	43.36 (1 h2)	42.24 (3)	Bronze
		Michelle Freeman • Juliet Cuthbert • Nikole Mitchell • Merlene Ottey • Andria Lloyd • Gillian Russell
4	–	Russian Federation	RUS	43.00 (1 h3)	42.27 (4)
		Yekaterina Leshchova • Galina Malchugina • Nataliya Pomoshchnikova-Voronova • Irina Privalova
5	–	Nigeria	NGR	43.54 (2 h2)	42.56 (5)
		Chioma Ajunwa • Mary Tombiri-Shirey • Christy Opara-Thompson • Mary Onyali
6	–	France	FRA	43.09 (2 h3)	42.76 (6)
		Sandra Citté • Odiah Sidibé • Patricia Girard-Léno • Marie-José Pérec • Delphine Combe
7	–	Australia	AUS	43.75 (3 h1)	43.70 (7)
		Sharon Cripps • Kylie Hanigan • Lauren Hewitt • Jodi Lambert
8	–	Great Britain	GBR	43.88 (3 h2)	43.93 (8)
		Angie Thorp • Marcia Richardson • Simmone Jacobs • Katharine Merry
3 h3 r1/2	–	Bulgaria	BUL	44.19 (3 h3)	–
		Desislava Dimitrova • Petya Pendareva • Zlatka Georgieva • Monika Gachevska
4 h1 r1/2	–	Colombia	COL	44.16 (4 h1)	–
		Mirtha Brock • Felipa Palacios • Patricia Rodríguez • Zandra Borrero
4 h2 r1/2	–	Thailand	THA	45.62 (4 h2)	–
		Sunisa Kawrungruang • Kwuanfah Inchareon • Savitree Srichure • Supaporn Hubson
4 h3 r1/2	–	Finland	FIN	44.21 (4 h3)	–
		Johanna Manninen • Sanna Hernesniemi • Heidi Suomi • Anu Pirttimaa
5 h1 r1/2	–	Cuba	CUB	44.32 (5 h1)	–
		Idalia Hechevarría • Aliuska López • Dainelky Pérez • Liliana Allen
5 h3 r1/2	–	Canada	CAN	44.34 (5 h3)	–
		Katie Anderson • Tara Perry • LaDonna Antoine • Lesley Tashlin
6 h1 r1/2	–	United States Virgin Islands	ISV	46.09 (6 h1)	–
		Maria Noel • Ameerah Bello • Jilma Patrick • Rochelle Thomas
AC h1 r1/2	–	Antigua and Barbuda	ANT	45.09 (DNF h1)	–
		Sonia Williams • Dine Potter • Charmaine Thomas • Heather Samuel
AC h1 r1/2	–	Cameroon	CMR	– (DNF h1)	–
		Myriam Mani • Georgette N'Koma • Edwige Abéna Fouda • Sylvie Mballa Éloundou
AC h2 r1/2	–	Germany	GER	– (DNF h2)	–
		Andrea Philipp • Silke Lichtenhagen • Melanie Paschke • Silke Knoll
AC h2 r1/2	–	Lesotho	LES	[49.52] (DQ h2)	–
		Sebongile Sello • M'apotlaki Ts'elho • Nteboheleng Koaeana • Lineo Shoai
AC h2 r1/2	–	Madagascar	MAD	– (DNF h2)	–
		Lantoniaina Ramalalanirina • Hanitriniaina Rakotondrabé • Nicole Ramalalanirina • Lalao Ravaoniriana
AC h3 r1/2	–	Saint Kitts and Nevis	SKN	– (DNF h3)	–
		Bernadeth Prentice • Bernice Morton • Elricia Francis • Valma Bass
AC h3 r1/2	–	Sierra Leone	SLE	[47.10] (DQ h3)	–
		Eunice Barber • Sia Kamanor • Sama Fornah • Melrose Mansaray

Round One (2 August 1996)

Top three in each heat and next two fastest advanced to the final.

Heat One (10:00)

Pos	Nr	Team	NOC	Time (A)	Split (Pos)	Reaction Time
1	–	United States	USA	42.49		0.269	Q
	–	Chryste Gaines		11.63	11.63 (1)
	3837	Carlette Guidry-White		10.28	21.91 (1)
	3858	Inger Miller		10.27	32.18 (1)
	3877	Gwen Torrence		10.31	42.49 (1)
2	–	The Bahamas	BAH	43.14		0.327	Q
	3055	Eldece Clarke		11.81	11.81 (3)
	3060	Savatheda Fynes		10.31	22.12 (2)
	3059	Debbie Ferguson		10.73	32.85 (2)
	3056	Pauline Davis		10.29	43.14 (2)
3	–	Australia	AUS	43.75		0.300	q
	–	Sharon Cripps		12.22	12.22 (5)
	–	Kylie Hanigan		10.52	22.74 (3)			1
	–	Lauren Hewitt		10.42	33.16 (3)			2
	–	Jodi Lambert		10.59	43.75 (3)
4	–	Colombia	COL	44.16		0.366
	3171	Mirtha Brock		12.11	12.11 (4)
	3173	Felipa Palacios		10.79	22.90 (5)
	3175	Patricia Rodríguez		10.59	33.49 (4)
	3170	Zandra Borrero		10.67	44.16 (4)
5	–	Cuba	CUB	44.32		0.168
	–	Idalia Hechevarría		11.67	11.67 (2)
	3192	Aliuska López		11.10	22.77 (4)
	–	Dainelky Pérez		10.77	33.54 (5)
	–	Liliana Allen		10.78	44.32 (5)
6	–	United States Virgin Islands	ISV	46.09		0.372
	–	Maria Noel		12.48	12.48 (6)
	3429	Ameerah Bello		10.70	23.18 (6)
	–	Jilma Patrick		11.40	34.58 (6)
	–	Rochelle Thomas		11.51	46.09 (6)
DNF	–	Cameroon	CMR	–		0.239
	3165	Myriam Mani		11.78	11.78 (3)
	3168	Georgette N'Koma		–	– (–)
	–	Edwige Abéna Fouda		–	– (–)
	–	Sylvie Mballa Éloundou		–	– (–)
DNF	–	Antigua and Barbuda	ANT	45.09		0.210
	–	Sonia Williams		11.96	11.96 (5)
	–	Dine Potter		11.00	22.96 (6)
	–	Charmaine Thomas		11.72	34.68 (7)
	3009	Heather Samuel		10.41	45.09 (6)

Heat Two (10:05)

Pos	Nr	Team	NOC	Time (A)	Split (Pos)	Reaction Time
1	–	Jamaica	JAM	43.36		0.293	Q
	3470	Michelle Freeman		11.73	11.73 (2)
	3482	Gillian Russell		10.51	22.24 (2)
	–	Nikole Mitchell		10.62	32.86 (1)
	–	Andria Lloyd		10.50	43.36 (1)
2	–	Nigeria	NGR	43.54		0.270	Q
	3588	Chioma Ajunwa		11.64	11.64 (1)
	3600	Mary Tombiri-Shirey		10.38	22.02 (1)
	–	Christy Opara-Thompson		11.16	33.18 (2)
	3597	Mary Onyali		10.36	43.54 (2)
3	–	Great Britain	GBR	43.88		0.336	q
	3334	Angie Thorp		11.93	11.93 (3)
	3330	Marcia Richardson		10.91	22.84 (3)
	3315	Simmone Jacobs		10.45	33.29 (3)
	3325	Katharine Merry		10.59	43.88 (3)
4	–	Thailand	THA	45.62		–
	–	Sunisa Kawrungruang		12.57	12.57 (4)
	–	Kwuanfah Inchareon		10.88	23.45 (4)
	–	Savitree Srichure		10.92	34.37 (4)
	–	Supaporn Hubson		11.25	45.62 (4)
DNF	–	Germany	GER	–		0.246
	3370	Andrea Philipp		11.74	11.74 (3)
	3362	Silke Lichtenhagen		10.36	22.10 (2)
	3368	Melanie Paschke		–	– (–)
	–	Silke Knoll		–	– (–)
DNF	–	Madagascar	MAD	–		0.291
	–	Lantoniaina Ramalalanirina		11.88	11.88 (4)
	3551	Hanitriniaina Rakotondrabé		–	– (–)
	3552	Nicole Ramalalanirina		–	– (–)
	–	Lalao Ravaoniriana		–	– (–)
DQ	–	Lesotho	LES	[49.52]		[0.435]
	–	Sebongile Sello		13.18	13.18 (7)
	–	M'apotlaki Ts'elho		12.33	25.51 (6)
	–	Nteboheleng Koaeana		12.18	37.69 (5)
	3542	Lineo Shoai		11.83	49.52 (5)

Heat Three (10:10)

Pos	Nr	Team	NOC	Time (A)	Split (Pos)	Reaction Time
1	–	Russian Federation	RUS	43.00		0.236	Q
	–	Yekaterina Leshchova		11.74	11.74 (2)
	3699	Galina Malchugina		10.61	22.35 (3)
	3720	Nataliya Pomoshchnikova-Voronova		10.43	32.78 (2)
	3706	Irina Privalova		10.22	43.00 (1)
2	–	France	FRA	43.09		0.231	Q
	–	Sandra Citté		11.77	11.77 (3)
	3301	Odiah Sidibé		10.47	22.24 (2)
	–	Delphine Combe		10.46	32.70 (1)
	3295	Patricia Girard-Léno		10.39	43.09 (2)
3	–	Bulgaria	BUL	44.19		0.342
	–	Desislava Dimitrova		12.38	12.38 (5)
	3112	Petya Pendareva		10.61	22.99 (5)
	3109	Zlatka Georgieva		10.87	33.86 (5)
	3108	Monika Gachevska		10.33	44.19 (3)
4	–	Finland	FIN	44.21		0.201
	–	Johanna Manninen		11.73	11.73 (1)
	3269	Sanna Hernesniemi		10.41	22.14 (1)
	–	Heidi Suomi		10.99	33.13 (3)
	–	Anu Pirttimaa		11.08	44.21 (4)
5	–	Canada	CAN	44.34		0.255
	3124	Katie Anderson		11.85	11.85 (4)
	3136	Tara Perry		10.56	22.41 (4)
	3125	LaDonna Antoine		10.90	33.31 (4)
	3139	Lesley Tashlin		11.03	44.34 (5)
DNF	–	Saint Kitts and Nevis	SKN	–		0.378
	–	Bernadeth Prentice		12.06	12.06 (5)
	–	Bernice Morton		10.63	22.69 (5)
	–	Elricia Francis		11.78	34.47 (6)
	–	Valma Bass		–	– (–)
DQ	–	Sierra Leone	SLE	[47.10]		[0.252]
	3732	Eunice Barber		12.44	12.44 (7)
	–	Sia Kamanor		11.85	24.29 (7)
	–	Sama Fornah		11.77	36.06 (7)
	3735	Melrose Mansaray		11.04	47.10 (6)

Final (3 August 1996 — 19:00)

Pos	Nr	Team	NOC	Time (A)	Split (Pos)	Reaction Time
1	–	United States	USA	41.95		0.292
	–	Chryste Gaines		11.57	11.57 (3)
	3828	Gail Devers		10.03	21.60 (2)
	3858	Inger Miller		10.38	31.98 (1)
	3877	Gwen Torrence		9.97	41.95 (1)
2	–	The Bahamas	BAH	42.14		0.166
	3055	Eldece Clarke		11.56	11.56 (2)
	3061	Chandra Sturrup		10.02	21.58 (1)
	3060	Savatheda Fynes		10.46	32.04 (2)
	3056	Pauline Davis		10.10	42.14 (2)
3	–	Jamaica	JAM	42.24		0.337
	3470	Michelle Freeman		11.72	11.72 (5)
	3468	Juliet Cuthbert		10.11	21.83 (3)
	–	Nikole Mitchell		10.58	32.41 (4)
	3478	Merlene Ottey		9.83	42.24 (3)
4	–	Russian Federation	RUS	42.27		0.297
	–	Yekaterina Leshchova		11.52	11.52 (1)
	3699	Galina Malchugina		10.34	21.86 (4)
	3720	Nataliya Pomoshchnikova-Voronova		10.26	32.12 (3)
	3706	Irina Privalova		10.15	42.27 (4)
5	–	Nigeria	NGR	42.56		0.398
	3588	Chioma Ajunwa		11.61	11.61 (4)
	3600	Mary Tombiri-Shirey		10.42	22.03 (5)
	–	Christy Opara-Thompson		10.63	32.66 (5)
	3597	Mary Onyali		9.90	42.56 (5)
6	–	France	FRA	42.76		0.264
	–	Sandra Citté		11.78	11.78 (6)
	3301	Odiah Sidibé		10.39	22.17 (6)
	3295	Patricia Girard-Léno		10.50	32.67 (6)
	3298	Marie-José Pérec		10.09	42.76 (6)
7	–	Australia	AUS	43.70		0.336
	–	Sharon Cripps		12.11	12.11 (8)
	–	Kylie Hanigan		10.61	22.72 (8)
	–	Lauren Hewitt		10.35	33.07 (7)
	–	Jodi Lambert		10.63	43.70 (7)
8	–	Great Britain	GBR	43.93		0.170
	3334	Angie Thorp		11.85	11.85 (7)
	3330	Marcia Richardson		10.82	22.67 (7)
	3315	Simmone Jacobs		10.70	33.37 (8)
	3325	Katharine Merry		10.56	43.93 (8)