The British team was made up of Katy Marchan, Sophie Capewell and Emma Finucane while the New Zealand team consisted of Rebeca Petch, Shaane Fulton and Ellese Andrews. "It is a dream that becomes a reality," celebrated 21-year-old Finucane, the world champion in individual speed, the new face of British cycling.

As for the final for the bronze medal, it was for Germany (45,400), with Pauline Grabosch, Emma Hinze and Lea Friedrich. The fourth place went to the Netherlands ahead of Mexico in fifth and China in sixth.

Emma Finucane spearheaded Britain to the first track cycling gold of the Paris Olympics in the women's team sprint on Monday, with the world record shattered five times in the session at Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines velodrome. It was the first gold for Britain since the event was added to the Olympic programme in London in 2012. 

Britain first smashed China's old mark in qualifying, crossing the line in 45.472. But it fell again to Germany in round one and minutes later New Zealand toppled it once more before Britain reclaimed the mark when they clocked 45.338.  The Mexican team, with Jessica Salazar, Yuli Verdugo and Daniela Gaxiola was fifth, ahead of China, to have won gold in the two previous Olympic Games.

It is the first time at an Olympics that the women's sprint has featured three riders, matching the men, working together to post the fastest time over three laps (750 metres). In previous Games, there were only two riders over 500 metres.

Defending gold medallists and world champions the Netherlands were fastest through the men's team sprint qualifying in an Olympic record 41.279, just shy of their own world best.

Led by Harrie Lavreysen and Jeffrey Hoogland, the top two sprinters in the world, they came home ahead of Britain, the champions in 2008, 2012 and 2016. The Dutch go head-to-head with Canada on Tuesday and Britain take on Germany as they bid to advance to a gold medal showdown.