SAINT-DENIS, France — It was 40 years ago when Alonzo Babers won the men’s 400 meters at the Los Angeles Summer Games. It sparked a ridiculous run of seven straight Olympic cycles of Team USA gold.
But that run ended after LaShawn Merritt’s win in 2008. Those Beijing Games were the second consecutive American sweep in the 400. Since then, the American men have managed one bronze — Merritt in 2016 — in the 400 meters.
The quarter-mile is an American institution. One medal in 16 years is a disgrace to the name of the legendary Michael Johnson.