The British athletes smashed the national record and were the fastest qualifiers for the finals at the Tokyo Olympics. On Thursday, the UK team smashed the competition with a speedy 41.55 seconds.

       Dina Asher-Smith, who had been absent for the 200m sprint, recovered from her injury and helped her team reach the finals.

       "There was never any doubt in my mind that I'd be lining up here today because the relay's really important, we got a bronze medal in Rio," Asher-Smith told Reuters.

       "These ladies are in great shape, they're incredibly talented, so I knew I had to rest up and get ready for the team event."

       Asher-Smith as well as anchor-leg Daryll Neita are the only British women to pass the finish line in under 11 seconds.

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       "I was watching the first change on the screen thinking, 'ok, that was really good...I saw Dina coming into it and I thought, 'it's go-time," Neita said.

       "I really wanted to bring it to the finish for these girls.

       "We've worked so hard. We haven't had that much practice and neither has the rest of the world in the pandemic.

       "To come out here today in the heat and set a British record, to have amazing changes - we've got confidence. Girls, good job."

       Right on their heels was the double defending Team USA champions.

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       The US finished at 41.90 seconds and Jamaica finished third with 42.15 seconds.

       In the second heat, Germany, China, France, Holland and Switzerland also qualified for the final on Friday.

       The Swis were the fourth fastest qualifiers with a speed of 42.05 seconds - a national record.

       While breaking the speedy record on Thursday may favour the Team GB women for the gold medal on Friday, both Team USA and Jamaica plan on changing their lineup for the final.

       Elaine Thompson-Herah and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce are set to run for Team USA for the finals.