Daryll Neita has too much work to do on final leg after imperfect exchanges but Brits still claim fine silver

Anchored by Sha’Carri Richardson, the United States stormed to Olympic gold in the women’s 4x100m in 41.78 in Paris on Friday night, but silver medallists Great Britain and Northern Ireland were left rueing some ropey baton exchanges that could have cost them gold.

Dina Asher-Smith, Imani Lansiquot, Amy Hunt and Daryll Neita ran superbly to take silver in 41.85 with Germany taking bronze in 41.97. Lansiquot had to stretch hard to get the baton to Hunt at the start of the final bend before Hunt subsequently didn’t enjoy the best of exchanges with Neita.

Despite this the Londoner who was fourth in the women’s 100m final looked like she could still earn the win but Richardson, the 100m silver medallist a few days earlier, had too much firepower and shot clear in the home straight.

"We’re all so proud and so happy," said Asher-Smith. "We’ve worked so hard for this. So to be challenging not just for a medal but challenging for a gold is phenomenal.

"Bianca (Williams) and Desiree (Henry) [who ran in the heats] get to be on the podium with us which is so special."

Neita added: "I was not going to let these ladies down. As soon as I got it I was like go go go and to be leaving with an Olympic silver medal and on the podium, representing Great Britain, we are so proud."

Close behind, the German team of Alexandra Burghardt, Lisa Mayer, Gina Lückenkemper and Rebekka Haase were delighted to take bronze.

Rain tumbled down into the Stade de France at the start of the penultimate session in the track and field arena at these Games, but it didn’t dampen the crowd’s enthusiasm as they cheered on their home team.

Orlann Oliere, Gemima Joseph, Helene Parisot and Chloe Galet performed admirably, too, finishing fourth 42.23, just ahead of the Jamaican team that was missing most of its bigger names like Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Shericka Jackson and Elaine Thompson-Herah.

Top prize went to the US team, though, with Melissa Jefferson kicking things off before handing to Twanisha Terry on the back straight, then the 200m gold medallist Gabby Thomas on the final bend and then Richardson, the world 100m champion from 2023 enjoying her golden moment at these Games at last.

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