By James Toney in Paris

Richard Kilty nearly quit athletics after the heartbreak of Tokyo but his commitment and patience were rewarded with Olympic bronze.

The Teesside Tornado helped Britain's 4x100m quartet to silver three years ago only to lose the medal a few months later when team-mate CJ Ujah recorded a positive drugs test.

He was considering walking away from the sport on that podium high but elected to crack on determined to get the Olympic medal he craved.

This time he watched from the sidelines for the final as Jeremiah Azu, Louie Hinchcliffe, Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake and Zharnel Hughes were selected, their medal Team GB's first in the 4x100m since striking gold 20 years ago in Athens.

But Kilty still joined them to receive their medal having run in the heats the previous day.

He said: "It was amazing, I was up there watching them my heart was beating and I was just thinking 'please please please'.

"It was absolutely amazing and I'm proud to have played my role in the squad and run yesterday but these guys came out and did everything.  Seasons best they're legends and these two superstars (Hinchcliffe and Azu) are the future.

"I said I didn't want my career to be defined by what happened in Tokyo, I said I wanted that medal and now I have. It feels very special."

Hughes ran a searing anchor leg to lift Team GB to bronze in a chaotic race.

Hughes took the baton with GB in sixth place after legs and ran a stunning 8.78s split to lift Britain to bronze in a time of 37.61.

Gold went to Canada in 37.50, with the experienced quartet of Aaron Brown, Jerome Blake, Brendon Rooney and Andre de Grasse claiming their first 4x100m title since Atlanta 1996, and South Africa took silver in 37.57.

Even without Covid-ridden 100m gold medallist Noah Lyles, USA were favourites for gold but once again could not get the baton around safely.

"As you can see my hamstring is heavily strapped but I came up with determination in my heart but I told them at the hotel that I was going to put my heart into it, just do your bit," said Hughes.

"After what happened in Tokyo this feels especially sweet, I'm just so proud of how these guys have stuck together."

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