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Ten of the biggest moments from London 2017

Published Mon 14 Aug 2017

Ten days of world-class athletics competition at the London world championships in Stratford have produced many moments of brilliance, disappointment and confusion.

Below are just ten of those moments that made headlines:

 

Sally completes comeback, wins second world title

Australia's Sally Pearson completed an amazing comeback from a tough two years of serious injuries clocking 12.59 to win the 100m hurdles final ahead of United States hurdler Dawn Harper Nelson.

The 30-year-old won her heat and semi-final convincingly before the 2012 Olympic champion claimed the second world title of her sparkling career.

 

Bosse bobs up for 800m, then gives hilarious interviews

French middle distance runner Pierre-Ambroise Bosse came from the clouds to win gold in the 800m final crossing the line in 1:44.67 with a strong surge home.  Bosse has been having an indifferent season on the track and clearly entered the championships in the English capital with modest expectations. He timed his run perfectly off the last bend and gave a few memorable interviews expressing his pure joy at what had just happened.

 

Makwala debacle: He was out, he was out, then he was in

Isaac Makwala (BOT) was ordered to withdraw from the heats of the 200m by the IAAF medical delegate and was then barred from the track when he showed up for the final of the 400m later that day. The sport's world governing body said he had an infectious disease and needed to be quarantined. The sprinter was then told on Wednesday when the IAAF that he could run a 200m heat on his own for a chance to qualify for the semi-finals. He qualified for the 200m final by clocking 20.14 placing second in the semi-final and then finished seventh in the final won by Ramil Guliyev (TUR).

 

Dani produces Aus discus record for world silver

A massive last throw of 69.64 metres from Dani Stevens in the discus final set a new Oceania and Australia record to put an exclamation mark on a silver medal performance. She missed out on gold by just 67 centimetres to reigning two-time Olympic champion Sandra Perkovic (CRO) with an incredible series of throwing in the final that included four efforts beyond 65 metres.

 

Bolt tears hamstring, doesn’t finish last championship race

Usain Bolt (JAM) took the baton for Jamaica as anchor of the 4x100m relay team in about third position and halfway down the straight shockingly fell to the track after injuring his hamstring. It was a sad ending to his championship career.  A bronze medal in the 100m earlier in the championships showed his mortality for the first time since a false start before the 100m in Daegu, which was previously the only blemish at the championships since he ran 9.58 in Berlin.

Thank You my peeps. Infinite love for my fans 🙌🏽🙌🏽

A post shared by Usain St.Leo Bolt (@usainbolt) on

 

Farah pipped, finishes track championships career with silver

Four-time Olympic champion Mo Farah (GBR) finished his track career on the world stage with a disappointing silver medal. Since the Daegu championships in 2011 where he was beaten in the 10,000m Farah had not been defeated, winning six world titles. After six years of domination he was finally left without enough of a kick chasing Muktar Edris (ETH) down the home straight and had to settle for silver.

 

Semenya dominates 800m with sprint finish to win gold

South African middle distance runner Caster Semenya again dominated an 800m final clocking a 1:55.16 world leading time, including a commanding sprint finish.  Having a legitimate crack at the world record of 1:53.28 held by Jarmila Kratochvílová seems well within her range. She clearly beat Francine Niyonsaba (BDI) who dipped under 1:56 for silver ahead of Ajee Wilson from United States.

 

Coburn runs away from Africans to claim steeplechase gold

Emma Coburn (USA) smashed her own American record to clock 9:02.58 to set a championship record winning gold in the 3000m steeplechase. Coburn, who won bronze at the Rio Olympics last year, broke the US record by over five seconds and made it an American one-two finish with Courtney Frerichs running a huge personal best for second.

 

Dutch sprinter Schippers defends 200m title

The silver medallist from the Rio Olympics a year ago, Dafne Schippers (NED), defended the world 200m title she won at Beijing two years ago in fine style. She held off 400m Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH) and a strong field to win gold after claiming bronze in the 100m earlier in the championships.

 

Tom Walsh gold for New Zealand in the shot put

Following up from a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics last year New Zealand shot put thrower Tom Walsh, who works as a builder in Christchurch during the summer, won gold in London.  The seven-time national shot put champion sealed victory with a final throw of 22.03 metres after placing fourth two years ago at the championships in Beijing.