Beijing - Jamaica's completion of a sprint gold sweep on Thursday marked a historic United States Olympic debacle which culminated in both sprint relays dropping the baton at the Beijing Games on Thursday. It is the first time in Olympic history that the US will have no gold at all in the men's and women's 100 and 200 metres, and the 4x100m relays.
Not even the only American winner on the night, the sweep-leading 400 metres runner LaShawn Merritt, was a happy man.
"I dedicate this victory to my brother. I promised him that I will win," said Merritt in reference to his late brother Antwan, who died in 1999 at the age of 19 when he fell from an eighth-floor dormitory window after being attacked.
Merritt showed no joy when he crossed the line and fell on his knees after causing a massive upset win over Jeremy Wariner, the man who had ruled the 400m with Olympic gold in 2004 and worlds gold 2005 and 2007.
There was nothing to be happy about for the US in other events either.
Veronica Campbell-Brown's 200m win completed Jamaica's golden sweep of the men's and women's 100m and 200m races and the US will also come up emptyhanded in the relays.
Cuban world record holder Dayron Robles lived up to his top billing in the the 110m hurdles making the most of the injury-related absence of China icon Liu Xiang to win comfortably.
Barbora Spotakova of the Czech Republic won the women's javelin, Nelson Evora captured the triple jump for Portugal and Russia got a morning gold from world champion Olga Kaniskina in the 20km walk.
In the 400m, Merritt beat Wariner for the third time this season when it really mattered, running away on the home straight for victory in 43.75 seconds which makes him the fifth-fastest man in race history.
Wariner had to settle for silver in 44.74 seconds as he faded badly on the home stretch. A spectacular dive from David Neville across the finish line secured the US sweep, as in 2004, in 44.80 seconds.
"You don't become a champion without being mentally and physically tough, and you know what, I showed up and got it done," said Merritt.
Wariner said: "I felt good coming off the turn. (Then) I didn't have anything left. I am disappointed."
The 100m world champion Campbell-Browne clocked 21.74 seconds to beat Allyson Felix, the US world champion over 200m, who had to settle for silver in 21.93. Bronze went to Jamaican 100m silver medallist Kerron Stewart in 22.00.
Campbell-Browne's time was the fastest since Gwen Torrence ran 21.72 in the semi-finals at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992.
Jamaica ruled the sprints in Beijing, with Usain Bolt winning both men's races in world record time and Shelley-Ann Fraser leading a Jamaican sweep of the women's 100m medals.
The Jamaicans are also well-positioned to win the 4x100m sprint relays as neither the American men nor the women managed to execute the final baton exchange.
First Darvis Patton and three-time world champion Tyson Gay dropped the baton and the women did the same in the handover from Torri Edwards to Lauryn Williams.
"I tried to reach for it but it wasn't there. I should have made sure, I guess it was my fault," said Gay.
The men's 2004 gold medallists Britain were also disqualified as only 10 of 16 men's teams were ranked. Both French relays also went out.
The 110m hurdles was due to be the biggest event at the Games but it imploded when the world and Olympic champion Liu limped off the track ahead of his heat, which shocked the entire nation.
Robles received a rousing welcome from the Chinese fans and was untroubled in his run to gold in 12.93 seconds. David Payne got silver with 13.17 seconds and fellow-American David Oliver took bronze in 13.18 seconds.
"Now I am the number one. I have the world record and I am Olympic champion," the Cuban said, adding in reference to Liu: "Liu is an athlete as big as China. I love China and Liu is my friend."
Spotakova saved the best for last as she captured women's javelin gold with a last attempt throw of 71.42m. Russia's Maria Abakumova got silver with 70.78m and Christina Obergfoell of Germany took bronze with 66.13m.
Evora won a classy triple jump event with 17.76m from British pre-event favourite Phillips Idowu (17.62m) with bronze going to Leevan Sands of the Bahamas (17.59m).
Kaniskina led from start to finish to win the women's 20 kilometres race walk gold in 1 hour 26 minutes 31 seconds in driving rain on a course outside the Bird's Nest stadium. Kjersti Platzer of Norway got the silver as at Sydney 2000 and Elisa Rigaudo claimed bronze for Italy in 1:27:12 hours.
The decathlon reached the halfway mark with US favourite Bryan leading from the start with now 4,521 points ahead of Belarussian Andrei Krauchanka (4,433) and Trey Hardee of the US (4,428).
