The heat is on… no, scratch that, the heat was on until the nations couldn’t pull through! The world’s best sprinters were all ready to light up Guangzhou, China, this weekend (10–11 May) for the World Athletics Relays. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Shericka Jackson, and Wayde van Niekerk were all set to go head-to-head in a race for those precious spots at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo and the 2024 World Relays in Paris. The lineup was stacked, the energy was high, and fans were hyped for what promised to be a thrilling showdown. But then… the rug was pulled out from under us.
But just five days before the event, the shocker hit. On May 5, the Botswana Athletics Association confirmed that Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori, Leungo Scotch, and Collen Kebinatshipi had officially withdrawn from the squad. In a heartfelt Facebook post, Tebogo wrote, “My withdrawal was not a decision taken lightly… It was made in full alignment with my long-term goals… I remain proud to represent Botswana.” He reassured fans that his season plans are still intact, but the team’s hopes of defending their title took a serious blow.
Botswana’s head coach, Justice Dipeba, called it a major setback, but remained hopeful: “This is the time for others to step up… I believe in the depth and potential of this team.” And if that wasn’t enough chaos for one weekend, Botswana wasn’t the only team hit. The Dominican Republic was forced to withdraw from the men’s 4x100m and mixed 4x400m World Athletics Relays due to visa issues.
Then came the hammer: Nigeria. Set to compete in four events, including both the men’s and women’s 4x100m and two mixed relays, Team Nigeria was also denied visas by the Chinese embassy. With several top nations suddenly out, what was shaping up to be a track and field spectacle has now turned into a scramble. Fans who were gearing up for fireworks are now left with question marks.
The Dominican Republic will not compete at the 2025 World Relays due to visa issues.
They were entered for the men’s 4x100m and mixed 4x400m relay for the competition taking place this weekend. pic.twitter.com/8MTrHJpJfm
— Track & Field Gazette (@TrackGazette) May 8, 2025
Still, the stakes haven’t changed. According to World Athletics, the top 14 teams in the men’s and women’s 4x100m and 4x400m will qualify for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo. On Day 1, the top two teams in each of the four heats will lock in their spots for Tokyo and move on to the final. The rest will battle it out in Day 2’s repechage round, where the top two teams in each heat still have a shot.
The drama, the pressure, the heartbreak—it’s all still there. But with key stars missing, this year’s World Athletics Relays might just be remembered for who didn’t show up rather than who crossed the line first. But does that open the door for teams like the U.S., Jamaica, and others to cruise through and capitalize, or does it just crank up the unpredictability even more?
Golden opportunity for Team USA as powerhouse teams pull out of the 2025 World Athletics Relays
As several powerhouse teams have pulled out of the 2025 World Athletics Relays, this could be a golden opportunity for Team USA. Well, we know the USA might have stumbled last year, with a disqualification in the heats at the World Athletics Relays, but they bounced back to snatch the Olympic title in Paris. That victory, which marked their 19th Olympic 4x100m title, was a huge comeback.
The team, made up of Christopher Bailey, Vernon Norwood, Bryce Deadmon, and Rai Benjamin, doesn’t feature in the U.S. squad this time, but the depth of talent is still there. The top 14 teams in Guangzhou will automatically qualify, and with nine of the past 10 world titles under their belt, the U.S. will enter as defending champions, hoping to add another win to their legacy.
As for the competition, Canada’s Andre De Grasse is aiming for a World Relays title after leading his team to the Olympic 4x100m gold in Paris 2024. Alongside Aaron Brown, Jerome Blake, and Brendon Rodney, he’ll be looking to challenge for a spot, though the team is a bit weaker without some of their key players. South Africa, with Akani Simbine and up-and-coming stars like Bayanda Walaza and Bradley Nkoana, is poised to make some noise.
Their squad also features world record holder Wayde van Niekerk, who’ll be joined by Lythe Pillay, Zakithi Nene, and Gardeo Isaacs. Great Britain will rely on 60m world indoor champion Jeremiah Azu and Olympian Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, while Italy is hoping Olympic champions Lorenzo Patta and Filippo Tortu can carry their team to the top.
Jamaica’s team, featuring Kishane Thompson and Ackeem Blake, will be looking for a strong performance, too. Australia’s Lachlan Kennedy and Torrie Lewis will be aiming for solid showings in the shorter relays. Even with some teams out of the picture, this year’s World Athletics Relays is still fierce. But with Team USA in a strong position, they’re a team to watch as they aim for another dominant performance on the world stage.
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