There was a golden uplift too for Mo Farah, so narrowly beaten to the 10,000m title a week earlier, who became Britain's first ever 5,000m world champion after overcoming the expected Ethiopian challenge and holding off the naturalised American Bernard Lagat over the final 50 metres.

And two defending champions, Caster Semenya and Phillips Idowu, had to settle for silver in the 800m and triple jump respectively as Russia's Mariya Savinova and Chris Taylor of the United States rose to the occasion with inspired performances.

Bolt's run was prefaced by relatively low-key activity as he acknowledged the applause of the spectators and simply waggled the Jamaica name on his shirt.

This was for the team.

The Jamaican's task was made easier when the United States third leg runner Darvis Patton collided with Britain's Harry Aikines-Aryeetey as they approached the final changeover, putting both team's out of contention and leaving the US anchor leg Walter Dix, the individual silver medallist, clutching at air.

Bolt, who had received the baton from the man who succeeded him as individual 100m champion, training partner Yohan Blake, pushed to the line to cross in a time which bettered the 37.10 he and his fellow Jamaicans had set in winning the Olympic title three years ago.


He revealed afterwards that the decision for him to run the last leg was partly dictated by difficult circumstances.

"I had a little problem with my Achilles," he said.

"I can't run the bend."

Farah, who had seen gold turn to silver in the final agonising strides of the 10,000 as Ethiopia's Ibrahim Jeilan came past him, maintained his golden vision all the way to the line here after winning a race that was effectively a last-lap carve up.

Lagat, world champion in 2007, had tracked the Briton all the way round, but despite a facial contortion that made that of his rival appear relatively relaxed at the close, he had to settle for a second successive world silver in this event.

Farah finished in 13min23.36sec, with Lagat clocking 13:23.64 ahead of Ethiopia's Dejen Gebremeskel, who inherited bronze after his team-mate Imane Merga was disqualified for briefly running on the inside of the track.

But the slow times were irrelevant at the end of a tactical affair.


"I can't quite believe it," said Farah, who had looked agonisingly over his shoulder as he approached the line, looking for another Jeilan, before kissing both his palms and spreading his arms in joy as he crossed the line.

"I pictured the 10k on the last lap thinking, I came so close then I'm not going to let anyone pass me.

"That race came down to a sprint finish and I am glad I took it.

"You have to be strong.

"When you come so close to gold, you want that gold.

"You do everything you can."

Savinova was already smiling irresistibly as she completed the last few strides of the 800m after it appeared as if the powerful South African, who had moved through the field to take the lead into the final straight, was going to defend the title she won in such controversial circumstances two years ago, when news leaked out just before her final that the IAAF were to ask her to undergo a gender test.

The Russian won in 1:55.87, the fastest time won this year, with Semenya taking silver in a season's best of 1.56.35 ahead of Kenya's Janeth Jepkosgei Busienei, who had deliberately taken the field out fast from the gun, presumably in an effort to nullify Semenya's finish.

"The race was pretty good," said Semenya.

"Even though I got a silver, I really enjoyed it, better than two years ago."

Savinova commented: "When I saw Caster's great shape before the race, I told myself that she was very well prepared and she was unbeatable to me.

"That is why I was prepared to fight for silver and did not focus on gold.

"I am still shocked I managed to win. In the last 30 metres I already knew I was going to win, so I started to smile."

Idowu put up an admirable defence of his triple jump title, establishing an early lead of 17.56 metres and extending it with a third round effort of 17.70.


But he had no adequate response once the spring-heeled 21-year-old American Taylor (pictured), who had beaten him extravagantly at last month's Samsung Diamond League meeting in London, produced a fourth round effort of 17.96 , making him the fifth furthest jumper of all time behind world record holder Jonathan Edwards, 1996 Olympic champion Kenny Harrison, France's Teddy Tamgho, whose season ended early with injury, and former world record holder Willie Banks of the United States.

As Taylor did all the energetic things American athletes tend to do on such occasions, Idowu's face was blank with shock.

Like a true champion, he responded with his next effort, reaching 17.77, his best of the season and only four centimetres short of his best ever.

It was good – but not good enough on the day.

"I wished I was happy, but I'll take that medal," Idowu said.

"I will go back home and work hard.

"I jumped two season's bests.

"It wasn't enough today but hopefully I can do it next year [at the London 2012 Olympics] and get gold."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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