American sprinters insulted Canada prior to the 4x100 relay and karma hit hard

Trash talk does not only take place on NHL ice, and karma also travels where the action is.

In a stunning sequence of events on Friday, Canada’s men’s 4x100-metre relay team claimed the Olympic gold medal at Stade de France. The Americans being a favourite to win the event, but the team botched its first handoff, and was disqualified.

Some will say that’s what you get when you tempt karma. When the United States qualified for the men’s 4x100-metre relay final in the spring, 100-metre gold medalist Noah Lyles had insulted the Canadian team when asked if he saw them as a threat. Lyles kept asking the interviewer who is was talking about: 

On Thursday, it was confirmed that Lyles to withdraw from the remainder of the Olympics. The news came after he revealed his COVID-19 diagnosis following his bronze medal finish in the 200-metre earlier in the day.

“I believe this will be the end of my 2024 Olympics,” Lyles said in the post. “It is not the Olympic I dreamed of but it has left me with so much joy in my heart. Whether you were rooting for me or against me, you have to admit you watched, didn’t you?

“See you next time.”

This meant he could not take part in the 4x100-metre relay, in which he and his teammates didn’t see Canada as a threat and it was Christian Coleman, Kenny Bednarek, Kyree King and Fred Kerley who came in to represent the United States.

They were ultimately disqualified, extending the U.S.’s 20-year medal drought in the mens’ 4x100 relay. Canada won a surprise gold in 37.50 seconds. South Africa took silver and Great Britain came away with bronze.

Andre De Grasse ran the anchor leg and posted a winning time for the Canadian team, which also included Aaron Brown, Jerome Blake and Brendon Rodney. The Canadians improved on the silver medal they won in Tokyo.

Canada and fans celebrated as the American sprinters finally realized how much of a threat these runners ultimately were.

Karma (and Lyles really) is a bitch.