Team GB’s women’s 4x100m relay team stormed to a stunning silver at a rain-soaked Stade de France.
Dina Asher-Smith, Imani-Lara Lansiquot, Amy Hunt, and Daryll Neita combined to clock 41.85 seconds to upgrade on bronze in Tokyo.
The quartet finished just 0.07 seconds behind champions USA, with Neita chasing Sha’Carri Richardson on the home straight to fend off the challenge of Germany, who took the final place on the podium ahead of hosts France.
Asher-Smith got Team GB off to the perfect start with the fastest first leg of the race, 11.02, before releasing Lansiquot down the back straight.
The drama! 😅
— Team GB (@TeamGB) August 9, 2024
What a final leg from Daryll Neita 👏
pic.twitter.com/fck5InCCPP
A slow changeover to Hunt almost dashed hopes of the podium but the baton was safely brought round to Neita, who powered home to take silver.
The result is the best performance from a British 4x100m women's relay squad since winning silver in 1956 in Melbourne.
“We’re all so proud and so happy," said Asher-Smith. "We’ve worked so hard for this.
"To be challenging not just for a medal but challenging for a gold is phenomenal. I just wanted to get to Imani first, I wanted to make sure I handed over to her with nobody in sight. Setting up the ladies for a phenomenal run."
— Team GB (@TeamGB) August 9, 2024
The quartet will be joined on the podium by Desiree Henry and Bianca Williams, who ran in the heats, and Asher-Smith hailed both the pair and the wider structure around the squad.
She added: "Bianca and Desiree get to be on the podium with us which is so special.
"I love how the championships are giving everyone medals and letting the full squad get their moment because this is truly a team effort, not just us four and those two but we’ve worked so hard as a women’s relay squad since 2012 and for the last ten years we’ve been pushing and we know we’re that good but we had to put the work in. To be able for us all to step on the podium with everyone will be a special moment."
Sportsbeat 2024