The U.S. women's team shattered the 4x100 relay record to coast their way to the gold medal in stunning fashion at the London Olympics.
The quartet of Tianna Madison, Allyson Felix, Bianca Knight and Carmelita Jeter stormed their way around the track in 40.82 seconds, in the process smashing the world record set by the East German team in 1985.
Madison gave the U.S. an early start, before Felix and Knight maintained the lead, before Jeter romped home in the final straight.
"I knew that these girls were going to run their hearts out," Jeter said. "I knew we were running fast.
"I knew we had won. Everyone ran an incredible leg. We were able to get the stick around and we were able to get the gold medal and the world record, I knew that right away.
"I knew we were moving, I knew we were running very well and so I was excited.
"There was a cloud hanging over us with people saying 'they can't do this, they're going to drop the stick' but we did it."
The win and record is made even more remarkable after the much-vaunted U.S. team missed out on the final four years ago.
"It's an honour to be part of this team," said Felix, the 200 meter gold medallist. "Who would have thought that we would have had a world record tonight? It's amazing. Our names are going down in history."
Jamaica took silver while Ukraine finished third.
Bahamas won their first Olympic Games track gold, beating U.S. in the men's 4x400 meter title.
The quartet of Chris Brown, Demetrius Pinder, Michael Mathieu and Ramon Miller ran a national record 2:56.72 to finish 0.33 ahead of the Americans, with Trinidad taking the bronze.
The race also saw Oscar Pistorius anchoring South Africa's team, which finished in eighth.
"It has been a great achievement for me to come here and compete," Pistorius said. "I never set out to prove a point, but I do feel I have made the point. It's been a privilege to be on the track with all the other phenomenal athletes."
France's Renaud Lavillenie took gold in a thrilling pole vault final in an Olympic record 5.97 meters.
Germany's Bjorn Otto was second with 5.91, ahead of compatriot Raphael Holzdeppe, who settled for bronze on countback.