A Complete History of the Sprint Triple at the Olympics and World Championships (100/200/4x100)

Since the inception of the modern Olympic Games in 1896 and the World Championships in 1983, only 13 athletes in Track & Field history have successfully completed the sprint triple, winning gold medals in the 100m, 200m & 4x100m at the same Championships. Lets take a look back at throes special athletes and also breakdown why winning a sprint triple is such a challenging task.
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⏰Video Timestamps
00:00 Intro
1:59 Jesse Owens
2:56 Fanny Blankers-Koen
4:01 Bobby Morrow
4:42 Betty Cutbert
5:07 Wilma Rudolph
5:49 Post 1960 Recap
6:51 Why were there so many sprint triples early on?
9:23 Carl Lewis
10:01 Florence Griffith-Joyner
10:58 Maurice Green
11:46 The lack of sprint triples in the 1990s
12:21 Tyson Gay
13:09 Usain Bolt
14:34 Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
15:04 Elaine Thompson-Herah
15:40 Noah Lyles
16:47 Why the sprint triple is so challenging
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📚Video Sources:

[@wilhelmw3455]

Honourable mention to Michael Johnson for his unique long sprint triple at the 1995 Gothenburg world championship winning gold medals in the 200m, 400m and 4x400m relay.

[@TheFinalLeg]

Facts! Also Valerie Brisco Hooks did the same at the 1984 Olympics - 400/200/4x400 Gold.

[@fireeestarter1]

Yes!

[@MichaelJohnson-wk8tk]

You do some of the most high-quality work on track and field. You are highly appreciated for the amount of research and hardwork you put into your presentations,

[@TheFinalLeg]

Really appreciate that!

[@AllInTheGame01]

Crazy to think that Bolt who did it an insane 5 times could've done it 7 times under different circumstances between '08 & '16. S/O to the great Gail Devers who came incredibly close @'93 WC to pulling off her own global sprint triple with 100m/100mH Golds & 4x1 Silver by literally the narrowest of margins! The historic global sprint triple I'm still waiting to see happen if the schedule ever allows it is the 400m/400mH/4x4 Triple! Femke pulled off a version of it @'22 Euro Champs running 5 races over 5 days (2 rounds each of 400m/400mH & 4x4 Final), but has ruled out attempting it @Paris '24 which would involve running 7 races over 7 days (3 rounds each of 400m/400mH & 4x4 Final). This excludes both rounds of the Mixed Relay & 4x4 Semi which is on the morning of the W400m Final which would make it 10 races over 9 days for someone like Femke. Fans would love to see the likes of Syd, Femke, Britton & Shamier go for it @'25 WC for example, but would really help if there were only 2 rounds each of 400m/400mH @WC like @Euro Champs.

[@TheFinalLeg]

Good call out on Gail Devers. Literally missed 4x100 gold by thousands of a second! The 400/400mh/4x400 would be an amazing triple, but I suspect we may never see it in the current iteration of Olympics/worlds because of the schedule. With the addition of the mixed relay recently AND the addition of the repechage rounds in Paris. The schedule is just getting tighter and tighter. I thought that if Sydney won the 400m in Budapest, she would have lobbied to have the Paris schedule changed to attempt the double, but now I think he focus may be the hurdles (I don't actually know though!). Another good candidate would be Rai Benjamin on the men's side. He is very much fast enough to challenge for a 400m Gold and 400mH gold.

[@AllInTheGame01]

@@TheFinalLeg Some diehards won't love it but I'm all for going to just 2 rounds for pretty much all track events specifically @WC by only having the Top 24 athletes per event participate (so can go straight into a 3 heat semi & final). This makes scheduling a little easier & encourages more athletes to double up which would be great for the sport! The Olympics should stay at 3 rounds but some experimentation needs to be tried with the WC. The second it becomes successful/popular, it'll likely force much needed change to the Olympics scheduling. Rai' s an incredibly talented athlete from the 100m - 400mH & would be a sub 44s 400m guy if he ran it FT, but still wouldn't personally bet good money on him beating BOTH a healthy & in-form Gardiner & Norman. Would still have him on the podium though.

[@TheFinalLeg]

@@AllInTheGame01 Im not mad at 2 rounds at global champs. I actually like how Euros did it. Give athletes who ranked high enough to ran fast enough a bye to the 2nd round, but then still allow everyone else to run the heats to earn a spot to the 2nd round. It would open up the chance for more doubles AND we would probably see better overall quality and not have to watch the top athletes jog the heats just because. And true, Rai is a 43 second runner, but I cant see him taking down Norman, Gardiner + everyone else when healthy, especially if its in the middle of a double. And he already has to get over the barrier of not beating Warholm in the hurdles.

[@seensay2132]

Had Gail run leg 2 and Gwen who has superior top end speed anchored, she would’ve gotten her 3 golds at 1993 Worlds.

[@AllInTheGame01]

@@seensay2132 IIRC, the majority of the Top 10 fastest US W4x1 times/teams have historically had their fastest 200m sprinter run that long 2nd leg to take advantage of that top end speed - 3 of the Top 4 had Allyson Felix x2 & Abby Steiner on 2nd leg.

[@annGreaves]

You always put a lot of work in your presentation.

[@TheFinalLeg]

really appreciate that!

[@o_CwNOOB_o]

It’s crazy the fact that Bolt could’ve had 7 triples is just mind blowing 💀

[@TheFinalLeg]

Crazy right??

[@JohnD-wo9ov]

The quality of your work is excellent. And for sure, when all of the variables of the 4x100 are added into the mix the stars must align perfectly for an athlete to pull off the triple.

[@TheFinalLeg]

Really appreciate that! And absolutely, everything must be almost perfect for the triple to be pulled off!

[@realalbertan]

​@@TheFinalLeg in this era having a solid relay pool is essential for load management. Any word if they will stipulate that relay spares MUST be used at some point ? Swimming has this - I call it a no tourist policy. Relays have been DQd for sitting athletes

[@PunanyChemist]

Excellent work. Great leg work, giving us all an appreciation for the sport.

[@TheFinalLeg]

Really appreciate you!

[@likylake9503]

This video is 🔥🔥 really appreciate the content you put out 💪🏽

[@TheFinalLeg]

really appreciate that!

[@reddogqb123]

Prior to noah lyles the last person to do it was Elaine thompson-herah 2020 maybe you meant only men

[@TheFinalLeg]

yea I added a small note to the top of the picture of Bolt when I said that. Thanks for clarifying!

[@fireeestarter1]

Nice video. ❤

[@JB-mm4bb]

That was good!!!

[@jimmyjones2511]

Leave out Bolt loool he truly is an anomaly 😂

[@TheFinalLeg]

Exactly. 5 sprint triples makes no sense, when no one else in history has even done it twice!

[@jimmyjones2511]

@@TheFinalLeg if not for Nesta Carter and his false start. he was damn near trying to add up everyone who’s done the triple in history and equal the total all by himself 😂

[@allgasnobrakes123]

I think the 200/400/4x400 triple is markedly more difficult

[@shelly3120]

Shelly did it in 2013, she's the goat

[@TheFinalLeg]

The first woman since FloJo to do it! Easily one of the greatest of all time!

[@Visionary0001]

Brother, why did you leave the great Carl Lewis out of your thumbnail image for this video? Remember, he ,Jesse Owens, and disgraced Marion Jones were the only athletes pull off the sprint double, PLUS bring home Long Jump gold. Most world-class sprinters today still have the ability to possibly do this (Lyles high jumps like 6 foot 11, just goofing around), but refuse to even attempt it, because it's "too risky" to have to maintain an additional, separate skill set at the World Class level.

[@TheFinalLeg]

Hahah there were 13 different names! Not intentional, don't worry, I do truly acknowledge Carl for sure as one of the GOATS with thoes 4 gold medals!

[@kwamemyrie8241]

Excellent story and breakdown! But...lol...what about an honorable mention for Michael Johnson's 1995 World Champs? 200, 400, and 4x400?

[@AllInTheGame01]

And also Gail Devers who came incredibly close @'93 WC with 100m/100mH Golds & 4x1 Silver by literally the narrowest of margins!

[@TheFinalLeg]

Definitlely both deserve honorable mentions (MJ 1995, Devers almost in 1993) Also even Brisco Hooks in 1984 (200/400/4x400), even Gwen Torrance in 1995, she won the 200m but was later DQd for stepping on the line.

[@kincamell2]

Gratitude

[@marfu1119]

Gwen Torrence would have completed the sprint triple at the 1995 world championship had she not got disqualified in the 200m for running in lane. She won the 100m and 4x100m relay. She did also won the 200m but got disqualified.

[@marfu1119]

Just like how Noah Lyles 100m in 2023 was wide was is the same for Shelly Ann Fraser vistory in 200m 2013 that field was also wide open only Allyson Felix ran under 22:00 and she pulled up 30m in the race.

[@realalbertan]

I'd argue the relay component requires 5 other elites sprinters sparing the top 2 from running relay heats

[@TheFinalLeg]

Hmmm good point, that extra rest is necessary. But I will say, back in the day, most athletes ran both the heats and finals in the 4x100. Flo Jo didnt, but everyone before that (including Carl in 1984) ran both rounds. And that was in a time where there were 4 rounds of the 100m and 200m, so even more sprinting overall!

[@onenation4164]

It could be done by Jackson.

[@AllInTheGame01]

Yeah realistically unless Sha'Carri suddenly levels up immensely in the 200m, it's gotta be Shericka with that 21.41 (0.1) PB. Even '21 Elaine with her 21.53 (0.8) PB would need to find something extra in the 200m. JAM also needs to try a different order than the one they've been using over the last few yrs to run Shelly, Shericka, Elaine & Briana/Kemba to not only win 4x1 Gold but break that WR.

[@gideonmushure9446]

Jackson has a real shot at the triple if she steps up her game next year... As for the relay honestly it just depends on which team has the better execution and baton exchanges on the day cz picking a favorite between Jamaica and USA is so hard

[@TheFinalLeg]

Jackson and Thompson-Herah both have shots at doing it, but the problem for Jackson is the 100m (very deep right now) and the problem for Thompson-Herah is the 200m (Jackson is clear favorite). Then the problem for both of them is the relay. USA's 4x100 is all relatively young women who have proven in both 2022 and 2023 that they can win even if Jamaica wins most of the individual sprint medals. As All in the game noted above, Jamaica needs to change something up if they want to win gold since they have the raw talent.

[@gideonmushure9446]

@@TheFinalLeg there's a slight chance that Jackson might not compete in the 100 to focus on possibly breaking the 200m WR.. but if she does compete then it's going to be a four-way between her, shaccari, Elaine and Shelly (if she brings her 21/22 form) and in such a race I'd pick Shelly and Elaine for the top 2 spots cz they have proven their ability to run 10.6 consistently when healthy.. and between shericka and shaccari I'd bet on shaccari for the bronze NB this comment is based on the assumption that Shelly and Elaine will be in peak form next year

[@AllInTheGame01]

@@gideonmushure9446 Hard to see a 30yr old Shericka skipping the 100m in what's likely going to be the Olympics with her at her absolute peak (not impossible but there's no guarantee she'll at least be at the same level as a 34yr old @LA '28). Having run 10.65 (1.0) this year in just her 3rd year in the event, it would've filled her with a lot of confidence plus narrowly missing out on that WC 100m Gold will have her hungry for her 1st ever individual Olympic Gold in any event. Would definitely have helped (if she'd had a decent tailwind) to have broken the 200m WR in Budapest as it takes the pressure off having to do it next year!

[@joycespencer8731]

I don’t think you did your research on Elaine properly. She did won triple gold at one of the Olympics

[@chrisjohnson-nq2ko]

Elaine Thompson Herah did it in 2021

[@seensay2132]

Wanna see Kerley pull a 100, 4x1, 4x4 triple at Paris or LA. Also*** The Great Eddie Tolan WOULD have been history’s 1st to do the triple at the 1932 Olympics. Blame racists Team USA coaches who didn’t want Olympic history’s 1st Black 100 gold and silver medalists on the 4x100 team.

[@AllInTheGame01]

A little surprised Fred & Shericka haven't consistently been trying to go for 4 medals each in each of the Global Champs we've had from Tokyo '21 onwards. Shericka who completely misjudged R1 of the 200m attempted all 4 in Tokyo & came away with 3 medals in the 100m/4x1/4x4 but hasn't attempted all 4 since then. Would've expected both of them to run the 3 rounds each of the 100/200m plus the 4x1/4x4 Finals for a total of 8 races in Tokyo, Eugene, Budapest, Paris & Tokyo again in '25 to try & rack up their career medal count as high as possible!

[@TheFinalLeg]

Really good call out on Eddie Tolan and Ralph Metcalf in 1932. The first to win 100 and 200 Gold! Famous for that photo finish in the 100m and Metcalf I think had his blocks set a few feet back in the 200m so he could have won that. Also, if I remember correctly, in 1936 Owens and Metcalf were placed in the 1st and 2nd legs of the 4x100 because of the optics of having 2 Black athletes finish off the relay. But it was the 1930s in the United States so not surprising in the least bit.

[@seensay2132]

@@TheFinalLeg Eddie doesn’t get enough credit. The American media was fearful and hateful when he won the Olympic Trials that year in a OMG-The-Coloreds-Are-Taking-Over-White-Mans-Territory and then historical records suggest after winning 2 Olympic golds, he returned to the U.S. and couldn’t get a job!!! Punished for making history Mainstream America didn’t want to acknowledge. Smdh and yes as far as Owens on the relay, he and Metcalfe were begrudgingly included as the exclusion of Jewish runners the USOC thought would embarrass and offend Hitler #ThisIsAmerica 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@seensay2132]

@@AllInTheGame01 my best guess is with Fred And Shericka if both near the end of the meets in Paris and beyond with 3 in the bag and realistic prospects at a 4th gold, BOTH will show up for 4x4 finals. Fred’s gotta conquer the deuce and Shericka needs enough Jamaican legs to give her striking distance at the U.S.

[@AllInTheGame01]

@@seensay2132 I know Fred's got issues in the deuce but there's an easy 4x4 Gold waiting there for him if he really wants it. Shericka realistically knows the US like in Budapest would have to mess up for JAM to win W4x4 Gold, but wouldn't a pretty much guaranteed Silver still be worth it to come in for just one race at the end of the meet?! With 16 Global Medals, she has a shot at catching Shelly's 24 if she runs every Final available to her!

[@dwightdunn7316]

Elaine Thompson did it .... That is why she is the real Goat ......

[@TheFinalLeg]

Definitely one of the greatest of all time! could have done it twice if the relay won 2016 Gold also!

[@dwightdunn7316]

Elaine ........ Thompson ...... Herah .......

[@ptseti]

Um Caviat- Flo Jo and those Russians were all juiced and at the time there was no such thing as testing for steroids so that so-called victory is questionable at best and in MY books TAINTED!

[@ronester1]

Next woman to do this will probably be named Sha'carri 🇺🇸 🇺🇸

[@TheFinalLeg]

Hmmm maybe! It will be a tough task to win all three considering how deep the competition is, but she has the talent to do so!

[@justineebourgeois3420]

Carl Lewis took steroids 🤷‍♀️

[@justblaze1011]

Wait a damn minute. 1930-60, 2000-present but only giving the 1980-90 a ten year window?

[@TheFinalLeg]

Because there were so few triples then.