The fastest eight teams qualified for the first round, from which the top four remained in contention for the gold medal final and the other four for the bronze medal final.[3]
q = qualified; in contention for bronze medal final
First round
First round heats were held as follows:
Heat 1: 6th v 7th fastest
Heat 2: 5th v 8th fastest
Heat 3: 2nd v 3rd fastest
Heat 4: 1st v 4th fastest
The winners of heats 3 and 4 proceeded to the gold medal final.
The remaining 6 teams were ranked on time, from which the top 2 proceeded to the bronze medal final.[4]