Great Britain disqualified from Olympics 4x100m relay
Last updated on .From the section Olympics
Great Britain will miss the men's Olympic 4x100m relay final after being disqualified in their semi-final.
The team finished second but the final handover between Daniel Talbot and Adam Gemili, 18, was not completed in time.
Gemili said: "Maybe I went early or too hard. It's disappointing as we could have been in contention in the final."
Favourites Jamaica rested Usain Bolt but still won heat one, while, in the second, the United States recorded the fastest overall qualification time.
Britain, who won this event at the 2004 Games in Athens, were disqualified in Beijing four years ago and have now made a mess of baton changes in five of the last six major championships.
Talbot said: "I don't know what happened. I just couldn't catch Adam. I'm really gutted and it's devastating."
Christian Malcolm, who ran the first leg for Britain, described the outcome as "unfortunate". He added: "It's one of those things that happens but it's a fantastic performance to run the time we did. Daniel has come in at the last moment. This is a big stadium and it can be overwhelming."
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If the runners only meet up now and again, then that is probably the reason why they don't seem to manage passing the baton properly.
It requires total comittment and sacrifice for four years, so I'm assuming they'll be back training tomorrow.
Why can't our highly paid athletes do it?
In the end, the medals table merely exacerbates negative nationalistic sentiment, and is really quite meaningless. I've enjoyed the competitions on their sporting merits. It's great that some of the winners come from the same country as me, but it's not the 'be all and end all'.
So to Sportster. Well done. Your country has won many shiny things.
Now f....
You must have been my PE teacher.
It's simply, the person receiving the baton, straight arm pointing down making a V with the first finger and thumb.
Person passing the baton, plant it straight in the V.
Don’t wave your arms about like you are squatting fly.
And these clowns get funding for this rubbish, not like it happens in a blue moon, its regular.
Yes, the obsessive counting behaviour has been grating all week. the BBC seems to be genuinely excited to learn that a gold medal is the 21st...no wait the 22nd...no wait the 23rd...no wait the 24th!!
I tend to think in much more qualitative terms. Put in a respectable showing, and after that, it really doesn't matter.
It may sacrifice the big medals for a while, but crashing out in semis every time does that anyway.
They looked good for a bronze here, such a shame.
"Have we medalled at any track event so far?"
Erm, have you been in mars, what about Mo Farah's brillaint 10,000m Gold Medal, the first ever by a brit.
Does this prove the media/tabloid obsession with Jess Ennis is clouding performances by other athletes??
Mo Farah's Gold is the best track and field performance by a GB athelete for many a games.