The men's 4 × 100 metres relay competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was held at the Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos on 18–19 August.

Other strong entrants were 2012 Olympic silver medallists Trinidad and Tobago and France, who earned bronze, and the 2015 world runners-up, China.

Jamaica with Bolt; his predecessor as world record holder Asafa Powell; and the equal second fastest man in history, Yohan Blake, were favourites.

USA were expected to be the strongest opposition with the Olympic 100m silver medalist Gatlin; Tyson Gay tied for second fastest in history; and the World Indoor Champion Trayvon Bromell.

At the first handoff, both USA and Jamaica ran up on their outgoing runners, Gatlin and Blake, to their outside, Japan's exchange went smoother, gaining more than a meter.

At the second handoff, things went smoother for all the teams as Jamaica, USA and Japan looked about even, with Nickel Ashmeade, Gay and youth world record holder Yoshihide Kiryū for the three leaders.

After the final baton change, the world junior record holder, Bromell, against world record holder Bolt, and Asuka Cambridge, a half-Jamaican Japanese runner, Bolt seemed to gain an edge on both Japan and USA, but had to slow as he fumbled to grab the baton.