updated 3:48 a.m. ET Aug. 24, 2004

ATHENS, Greece - Jeremy Wariner is just 20 years old. He just led a U.S. sweep in the 400 meters at the Olympic Games.

So c’mon kid, get excited!

Cool, calm and with a fluid running style all his own, the lean Baylor University student raced to the gold medal Monday night wearing sunglasses, two earrings and a jingling necklace. After crossing the line, he waved a U.S. flag and embraced the teammates who finished right behind him. But there was no massive show of emotion.

That’s not his style.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” he said. “I have a four-by-four relay I’ve got to concentrate on. It’s going to hit me in a couple of days but I’ve got to get focused right now.”

So it was left to others to marvel at the talent exhibited by Wariner, who outsprinted teammate Otis Harris down the stretch to win in a personal-best 44 seconds flat, the fastest time in the world this year.

Slide show   Emotional Moments: Aug. 29 Trouble mars the marathon but the Olympic spirit prevails.

“I’ve never seen a white man run that fast,” said Grenada’s Alleyne Francique, who was supposed to be Wariner’s biggest threat but finished fourth. “It was a blazing race, man. The kid is good.”

Wariner has become accustomed to the race issue, as a rare white man running sprints that traditionally have been dominated by blacks.

“It doesn’t matter what race you are,” Wariner said. “It’s just ability. I’ve had a great coach, and he knows what he’s doing.”

Harris, 22, was second in 44.16. Derek Brew, the old man of the U.S. crew at 26, finished third in 44.42.

The United States has dominated the event since 1984, winning 13 of the 18 medals in the last six Olympics. Americans also swept at the 1988 Seoul Games.

The three Americans hugged in the finish area, then began a slow victory lap with three U.S. flags.

“We’re definitely going to take the 400 meters back to where Michael Johnson left off,” Harris said. “You know the young guys here are definitely excited about the future.”

Wariner has been tabbed the successor to Johnson, who ruled the 400 for more than a decade, still holds the world record of 43.18, and won gold medals in the 1996 and 2000 games. Wariner even has Johnson’s old coach, Clyde Hart.

“I’m happy for Jeremy, but I’m so very happy for coach because I think a lot of people didn’t give him the credit he deserved,” said Johnson, who was in Athens as a commentator for the BBC. “He’s just an incredible coach and it’s because he’s a teacher. He teaches athletes how to run.”

The United States has won 18 of the 24 times the event has been held in the Olympics, including four medal sweeps — 1904, 1968, 1988 and this summer.

Track & field - Men's 400 meters (medals: Aug. 23rd) Medal Athlete Country Result Gold Jeremy Wariner United States 44.00 Silver Otis Harris United States 44.16 Bronze Derrick Brew United States 44.42 NBCO: Schedules, preliminary result and complete final results

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