The fastest entrant in the field was 2015 World Champion Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands at 21.93 seconds for the season.

The lesser known Deajah Stevens and Jenna Prandini completed the American team (so the 2012 bronze medalist Carmelita Jeter also did not return).

The Jamaican team was headed by 2015 World medallists Elaine Thompson and Veronica Campbell-Brown (the latter going for her third Olympic title).

Trinidad and Tobago's Michelle-Lee Ahye and Dina Asher-Smith of Great Britain were the other top ten ranked athletes to enter the race.

Tori Bowie stumbled out of the blocks and was another metre back in a battle for fifth place with Dina Asher-Smith.