Australia has won its first medal of the Rio Olympics with its men's archery team claiming bronze at the Sambodromo.

Taylor Worth, Alec Potts and Ryan Tyack teamed up to defeat China 6-2 and open Australia's medal account on day one of competition in Rio.

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Australia had not previously won a medal in the team event and it is the first podium finish it has achieved in the sport since Tim Cuddihy took bronze in the individual at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

The Australians began confidently to edge ahead of China when it won the opening two sets, 56-55 and 56-53.

China struck back, however, to secure the third when it outscored Australia 57-54.

Worth, Potts and Tyack only needed to draw the fourth and final set to collect the bronze but they went on attack and iced their triumph by nailing a score of 59 out of a possible 60.

They hit 10 on 12 occasions during the match to China's eight.

Australia, who was fourth following the preliminary ranking round, had earlier qualified for the semi-finals with a 5-3 defeat of France.

Alec Potts, Ryan Tyack and Taylor Worth won the first team medal in archery for Australia. ( Getty Images: Paul Gilham )

But it found the going much tougher in the semi-final when it was soundly beaten 6-0 by the slick Korean outfit.

Worth, Potts and Tyack had entered the Games as a medal contender, having finished eighth at last year's world championships in Copenhagen.

South Korea defeated the United in the final to take the gold medal.