US break world record to take gold in 4x100m relay

The United States smashed one of the oldest world records on Friday when they won the women's Olympic 4x100m relay title in 40.82sec.

The United States smashed one of the oldest world records on Friday when they won the women's Olympic 4x100m relay title in 40.82sec.

The quartet took more than half a second off the 27-year-old record of 41.37sec set by the former East Germany in 1985, beating home arch-rivals Jamaica (41.41sec) while Ukraine took bronze (42.04sec).

The Americans' 100 metres silver medalist and 200 metres bronze medalist Carmelita Jeter anchored the team to gold with a devastating burst down the final stretch.

It was a second gold for 200m champion Allyson Felix while Tianna Madison and Bianca Knight completed the quartet.

It was the United States' first Olympic gold in the event since the 1996 Atlanta Games and only their first medal since the 2000 Sydney Games, where they took bronze.