For all eight athletes on the start line of the 100m final, there appeared a huge opportunity.

Reigning Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah, of Jamaica, was ruled out of defending her title after sustaining an Achilles tendon injury, while world 200m champion Shericka Jackson chose just to focus her efforts on that event in Paris.

Then, before the semi-finals on Saturday, the withdrawal of two-time champion Fraser-Pryce meant no Olympic medallists from Tokyo would be present.

Richardson lined up as the fastest woman in the world this year after running 10.71 in June, but the American simply could not get close to Alfred on her Olympic debut.

Jefferson, 23, edged out GB’s Neita to win her first individual global medal, having won successive world 4x100m relay golds.

Neita had made no secret of her determination to end her wait for an individual global medal in Paris.

Having made five global podiums as part of the British relay team, the 27-year-old has made impressive progress since reaching – but finishing last in – the Olympic 100m final in Tokyo three years ago.

She must now quickly refocus for the 200m, having finished fifth in that event at last year’s World Championships, before hoping to help GB to a third successive Olympic 4x100m podium.

“I think I put a good race together, I came fourth in the final, it’s an amazing progression – I was last in the final last time,” Neita said.

“I really, really, really wanted that medal. I need to recover because I’m in the 200m.”