LONDON: The United States won the women's 4x100 metres relay in a world record time at the London Olympics yesterday, completing the lap in a sizzling 40.82 seconds to win the title back for the first time since 1996.

Tianna Madison, Allyson Felix, Bianca Knight and Carmelita Jeter combined slickly to beat the world mark of 41.37 set by East Germany in 1985.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Sherone Simpson, Veronica Campbell-Brown and Kerron Stewart won silver for Jamaica in 41.41. Ukraine claimed the bronze.

The Bahamas shocked the US in the men's 4x400m relay.

They become the first team to beat the US in the 4x400m relay final since 1972, in a stunning victory which sealed their first ever men's athletics gold.