From reserve to Olympic medalist: Alexandra Burghardt wins Bronze in the 4 x 100m Relay
Called up to compete this morning, Burghard can now call herself an Olympic Bronze Medalist
Paris, France, August 8, 2024 - In a dramatic twist at the Stade de France, Alexandra Burghardt (GER) went from being a reserve runner to an Olympic bronze medalist in the women’s 4x100m relay. Originally set to cheer on her team from the stands, Burghardt was called to the track after a last-minute injury sidelined a teammate, thrusting her into the race and onto the podium.
With little time to adjust, Burghardt took her place on the track, ready to make her Olympic mark. Despite not running in the preliminary heats, her fresh legs proved to be an asset as she ran the second-fastest first leg of the race, and handing the baton over to Lisa Mayer. Still, in medal contention, Mayer handed over to former European Champion Gina Lückenkemper, who ran the final bend to hand over to Rebecca Haase.
In the final stretch, Haase briefly took the lead, but the formidable sprinting of Sha'Carri Richardson (USA) and Daryll Neita (GBR) saw the U.S. and U.K. teams claim gold and silver, respectively. The German team finished third with a season-best time of 41.97 seconds, securing the bronze medal.
Sijla Mühlebach, Athlete Manager at On, was in the stadium watching Burghardt compete and celebrate:
“We couldn’t be more proud of Alex’s performance and the team spirit she displayed during the Games. Alex’s patience and positive mindset she showed while dealing with a foot injury for most of the outdoor season and supporting her teammates in the prelims after not being selected to run is inspiring. Alex was called to run the first leg last minute due to an injury of one of her teammates and she delivered when it mattered most. This is an emotional moment for her, and we can’t wait to celebrate her first Summer Olympic Medal and second Olympic Medal overall with her.”
Reflecting on her achievement, Burghardt said:
“I somehow can't believe it myself, it's been such a roller coaster over the last few days. This morning at the start I really didn't feel that good and then somehow something switched I knew I had it in me. I'm really proud of the first leg. It's so cool that the year is coming to an end like this and yes, we're all so happy.”
This medal marks another significant milestone in a remarkable Olympic journey for Burghardt. Paris 2024 was her fourth Olympic appearance. She first traveled to Rio in 2016 as a reserve and then placed fifth with the German 4x100m relay team in Tokyo 2020. Remarkably, just six months after Tokyo, Burghardt transitioned to winter sports and won a silver medal in bobsleigh at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. With her bronze medal in Paris, Burghardt proudly holds two Olympic medals across both Summer and Winter Games.
Burghardt’s bronze also represents a historic first as it is the first Olympic sprint medal won by an On Athlete.
About On
On was born in the Swiss Alps in 2010 with the mission to ignite the human spirit through movement – a mission that still guides the brand today. Fourteen years after market launch, On delivers industry-disrupting innovation in premium footwear, apparel and accessories for high-performance running, outdoor, training, all-day activities and tennis. On’s award-winning CloudTec® innovation, purposeful design and groundbreaking strides within the circular economy have attracted a fast-growing global fan base – inspiring humans to explore, discover and Dream On.
On is present in more than 60 countries globally and engages with a digital community on www.on.com.