Rio 2016 Olympics: Richmond ace Zoe Lee guides Team GB women's eight into final

Team GB qualified as the second fastest boat for Saturday's final with the stand-out United States operation leading the way in qualification by three seconds.

Lee was initially made to wait to make her debut on the water at the Lagoa rowing complex after high winds suspended all rowing races on Sunday.

The wind speed lowered 24 hours later and Lee stroked the British boat to victory in the second heat.

The British boat finished two and a half seconds clear of medal rivals New Zealand in a time of 6.09.52. The United States won heat one in 6.06.34.

Lee and her compatriots will return to the water at 3.04pm on Saturday when the medal places will be announced.

Meanwhile, Grassington's Andrew Triggs Hodge is on course for a third Olympic gold medal after helping the British men's coxed eight through the heats as the fastest qualifier.

The men won heat one in 5.34.23, two seconds clear of the second quickest boat of Netherlands.

Triggs Hodge's final will take place 20 minutes after the women go for gold.