Simone Biles may have guided Olympic champions the United States to a third consecutive women's team title with a flawless display but it was the Great Britain team which scripted history by claiming their first ever world team final medal by claiming bronze at the World Championships in Glasgow.
The British team secured an emotional victory which they hope will lead them to the podium in Rio. "It's a massive, massive achievement," said Rebecca Downie.
The British team were out of contention into their final vault apparatus. However, three terrific vaults by Claudia Fragapane, Amy Tinkler and Ellie Downie helped Great Britain overtake Russia.
The United States stole the show in front of a capacity crowd of 5,500 at Glasgow's Hydro Arena.
The 18-year-old from Texas was also joined by Olympic gold medallists Gabby Douglas and Alexandra Raisman, returning after a two-year break following the 2012 London Games.
Madison Kocian and newcomer Margaret Nichols completed the five-woman team.
An error-free performance on the four apparatus -- vault, uneven bars, beam and floor -- gave the US an accumulated 181.338 points to finish over five points ahead of their nearest rivals China.
The Chinese moved up from fourth after qualifying to take silver (176.164) with hosts Great Britain scoring 172.380 to take their first ever team medal with bronze.
"The girls did their jobs. We went out there and had fun with it," said Biles, after winning her eighth world gold.
"It comes from all the practices we've done. We're so prepared for this. We came into it mentally stronger."
Biles competed on three of the four apparatus.
She set the tone with her first jump on the vault for which she scored 15.966, and was solid on the beam 15.200 before finishing off in style with an acrobatic display on the floor 15.733.
China matched their silver from last year's world championships in Nanning, coming back from a fall by Wang Yan off the beam.
It was a fifth world team title for the US in the last seven world championships and consolidates Biles's position as favourite to win a record third consecutive women's all-around title later this week.
"I hope I can keep it up in the all-around," said Biles, who has become the star of women's gymnastics since joining the senior team three years ago.
She did not compete in London where Douglas won all-around gold and will be bidding to become the first woman since 1968 to defend her Olympic all-around title.
"Making the (USA) Olympic team is my dream, and hopefully if I can do that, I can plan the rest out."
Raisman, the Olympic floor champion, paid tribute to Biles.
"She has so much energy, my God! We try to figure out what her secret is. We all look up to her. She's amazing. I love to train with her because she always pushes me to the next level."
Russia dropped from second after qualifying to finish fourth after falls on the beam and uneven bars.
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