The Canadian 4 x 100 meter relay team was crowned world champions on Saturday at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

The team of Jerome Blake, Aaron Brown, Brendon Rodney and Andre De Grasse also set a national record by finishing the race in 37.48 seconds.

The maple leaf beat its eternal rival, the United States, at the finish line by seven hundredths of a second. Great Britain is on the third step of the podium.

Canada's last victory in this event at the World Championships in Athletics was in 1996.

Recall that De Grasse had decided not to participate in the 200 meter race - of which he is the reigning Olympic champion - to concentrate on the relay. His bet thus paid off, and it was he who led his team to victory by virtue of an inspired sprint in the final stretch of the event.