“I’ve never been part of a team that feels so seamless”, said animated English rider Laura Trott of the effort by Katie Archibald, Elinor Barker, Joanna Rowsell-Shand and herself.
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Trott became the first British woman to win three Olympic golds on Saturday and will be favorite for a fourth when the omnium event she won in London begins.
The men’s eight led from gun to tape to claim Great Britain’s third gold of the rowing competition and a first Olympic title in the event since 2000.
U.S. recorded a time of four minutes 12:282 seconds, only for GB to then clock four minutes 12.152 seconds to reclaim the world record.
Four years ago on home turf they won seven of the 10 Olympic disciplines, matching their haul from Beijing in 2008.
And when the two rival teams met in the finals, the British team broke their own record and took home the gold.
The bronze medal ride-off will be between Canada and New Zealand after Australia, world record holders entering the Games, finished fifth fastest in the first round.
Team GB set a new world record in Thursday’s qualifying round, then topped a new mark by the US team Saturday morning. Their wait for a gold in Olympic women’s track cycling goes on.
They almost suffered a shock loss to Denmark, only taking the lead in the last lap to win through to the gold medal ride.
Britain have not won a world title in the three-man, three-lap event since 2005, but they have won gold at the last two Olympics.
It sets up a thrilling track final later on Friday between the world and Olympic champions where the world record will be threatened again.
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Becky James, the 2013 world Keirin champion, advanced to the second round, effectively a semi-final, in supreme fashion by winning her heat.
