By Nik Simon
They came out like a team ready for the Parisian catwalk but the runway proved to be a little slippery. Team GB’s women won gold for style as they entered the arena but over time they may feel a collective frustration at not winning the gold that matters.
Having claimed bronze in Rio and Tokyo, this was the night they hoped to discover the alchemist’s touch. They were in first position at the halfway point but after two anxious handovers they had to settle for silver.
True to style, they lapped it up as the they paraded the perimeter of the track, draped in Union Jacks. Second place is nothing to be sniffed at – their best finish since 1956 – but the most elusive prize of them all still deserts them.
The rain began to fall just minutes before the sound of the starting gun. Paris has baked in glorious sunshine all week but the conditions changed with one snap weather front and the aluminium baton turned into a slippery occupational hazard.
It wreaked havoc across both relays, with Britain’s men claiming a surprise bronze after Christian Coleman and Kenny Bednarek of the USA crashed into each other at the first handover. With a record that borders slapstick comedy, the big-talking Americans were disqualified for the 12th time since 1988.
Team GB secured silver in the women’s 4x100m relay after back-to-black Olympic bronze medals in the event
The race was marred by torrid weather conditions as rain poured down at the Stade de France
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Britain’s women suffered a lesser fate for an infringement on the final handover. They were reprieved by the officials but they lost crucial time either side of Amy Hunt’s third leg. ‘We practise so much but sometimes in the chaos and the pressure of a final you just have to quieten your mind,’ said Imani Lansiquot, who held position after Dina Asher-Smith’s lightning-fast start.
They dried their hands on their leotards and hoped for the best. The north stand of the Stade de France has been a corner of greatness during these games. It is where Mondo Duplantis broke the pole-vault world record and Keely Hodgkinson kicked home to win gold in the 800m, merging with the point where Noah Lyles bounced around like a maniac and Antoine Dupont set up one of the greatest Sevens tries ever seen.
But it proved to be a sticky patch for the British women. They slipped from first to second, before Sha’Carri Richardson came flying past on the anchor leg to snatch gold by eight hundredths of a second.
‘We are all so proud and so happy,’ said Asher-Smith. ‘We have worked so hard for this. So to be able to be in a position not just to challenge for a medal, but also for gold, it’s phenomenal. I tried to get to Imani first and I wanted to set up the ladies for a phenomenal run. I did not want anybody else in sight. This is a team effort. We have worked so hard as a women’s team relay squad since 2012. We have pushed so hard for the last ten years. To stand on the podium with everyone is a very beautiful moment.’
Not all that glitters is gold and moments later they watched the men’s team in a state of delight. Suffering from covid, America’s Noah Lyles spent most of the day back at the Four Seasons on the Champs Elysees, £2685 a night, living the lifestyle of an Olympic gold medallist. Team USA were missing their fastest man but Coleman left Britain’s Jeremiah Azu for dust as he powered out of the blocks.
A late surge from Sha’Carri Richardson saw Team USA take gold by the narrowest of margins
Then disaster struck as they botched their handover. Suddenly the Brits smelt blood. This is the team who were stripped of their silver medal from Tokyo after CJ Ujah failed a drugs test. They rushed Zharnel Hughes back from a hamstring injury to race in the anchor leg and their gamble paid off, as he charged from sixth to third to get his hands on the bronze medal.
‘I’m still in pain,’ said Hughes. ‘I had an ultrasound and an MRI. We found out that the sciatic nerve was really squashed and there was also some bleeding on the muscle. My hamstring is heavily strapped but this is the Olympics finals and the guys needed me and I was always going to give it my best. I’m so happy we were able to get on the podium.’
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It’s pride and pain for Team GB as they are forced to settle for silver in the 4×100 metre relay – after wet weather wreaked havoc on their handoffs in Paris
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Publish date : 2024-08-09 10:30:00
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