Olympics: Australia win women's 4x100m free gold in world record time

Australian swimmers Cate (second, left) and Bronte Campbell (second, right) are seen with coach Simon Cusack (right) during the team's first training session at the Rio Olympic Games Aquatics Centre in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on August 1. PHOTO: EPA

RIO DE JANEIRO - The opening day of action at the 2016 Olympics ended in style, with Australia winning the women's 4x100m freestyle relay in a new world record time of 3 mins 30.65sec.

Boasting the two fastest sprinters in sisters Cate and Bronte Campbell, Australia took gold ahead of the United States (3:31.89) and Canada (3:32.89) at the Olympic Aquatics Centre.

In the process, they rewrote their own world mark of 3:30.98 - set at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Reigning 100m free world champion Bronte, 22, was not part of the Australian team that won this event in an Olympic record time of 3:33.15 four years ago in London.

But she helped Australia break the Games record in qualifying (3:32.39) on Saturday.

Australia found another gear in the final, allowing Bronte and Cate, the 24-year-old 100m free world record holder, to celebrate their first Olympic relay gold together.

"Definitely my favourite race ever, in an Olympic final with my sister and two girls I have known since I was 12,13 years old and a gold and a world record," said Bronte. "You can't ask for more."

Emma McKeon and Brittany Elmslie, both 22, completed the quartet.

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