Michael Johnson calls USA’s men’s 4x100m relay team ‘embarrassing’ as Carl Lewis claims they did ‘everything wrong’

Trayvon Bromell, Fred Kerley, Ronnie Baker and Cravon Gillespie failed to make it through the first round, with the United States’ drought at the Olympics going back to Sydney 2000

Michael Johnson has criticised Team USA’s men’s 4x100m relay team after their disastrous round one exit at Tokyo 2020.

The United States’ men have not won the 4x100m since Sydney 2000, though there was great expectations for quartet Trayvon Bromell, Fred Kerley (the 100m silver medalist), Ronnie Baker and Cravon Gillespie.

They finished sixth in the round one heat, behind China, Canada, Italy, Germany and Ghana, with a time of 38.10 seconds - the eighth-fastest time among the 16 teams.

After a poor changeover between Kerley and Baker, Gillespie entered the final leg in position to bank an automatic qualifying spot, but he was charged down, leading to widespread criticism.

And Carl Lewis claimed the team did “everything wrong”, tweeting: “The passing system is wrong, athletes running the wrong legs, and it was clear that there was no leadership. It was a total embarrassment, and completely unacceptable for a USA team to look worse than the AAU kids I saw.”

And Johnson, the former Olympic champion, concurred, telling BBC Sport: “Absolutely I’d go that far, it's embarrassing and ridiculous, we've seen it for so many years, so much talent and depth but not getting the baton round.

“An interview where Fred Kerley and Ronnie Baker, they were asked how many times did you practice? And Kerley replied, ‘I don't know,’ which isn't true. It’s something that he doesn't want to say.

“Why aren't they practicing? That much talent and depth. They haven't won a 4x 100m relay since 2000, I was still competing then, that's ridiculous! They haven't won any sprint medals. It's a big problem.

Trayvon Bromell competes in the men’s 4x100m relay heats (AFP)

“The performance of this USA team is really bad, highlighted by this relay. Usually we at least get to the final before dropping it.

“People are embarrassed, with the amount of talent there, there are questions about whether there should have been a holding camp, they chose not to.

Cravon Gillespie of Team United States reacts after coming in sixth in round one (Getty)

“The decision of Gillespie on the anchor leg, that was ridiculous.

“They should have been still in that, they were still in it, and he just got passed by Ghana and Canada, that's pretty bad.”