Rio 2016: Great Britain take first women's 4x100m relay bronze in 30 years

Asha Philip, Desiree Henry, Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita broke a national record in the process

Great Britain's Dina Asher-Smith, Asha Philip, Daryll Neita and Desiree Henry celebrate taking bronze (Getty)

Great Britain's women have won their first Olympic 4x100 metres medal in 32 years, breaking the national record en route to bronze.

Asha Philip, Desiree Henry, Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita arrived at the Olympic Stadium as a strong medal shot, having last month become the country's first quartet to go sub-42 seconds.

That 41.81secs run at the Anniversary Games was beaten in Rio de Janeiro as they secured a first medal since Los Angeles 1984 in 41.77s.

Just four years ago they did not even a qualify a team to compete at their home Games.

In Brazil they were 0.76s off gold medallists America, who made the most of their reprieve in Thursday's heats to win in 41.01 from lane one ahead of Jamaica.

The United States' performance made a mockery of the British men's team's pre-race suggestion that lane one would be too tight.

Richard Kilty, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, James Ellington and Adam Gemili managed to end a run of baton blunders that cursed them at the last four global championships, but the 4x100 metres quartet were unable to secure a podium place.

Usain Bolt-inspired Jamaica clinched gold ahead of Japan and the United States, with Great Britain sixth in 37.98.

PA