Andrey Silnov of Russia won the men’s high jump at the Beijing Olympics clearing 2.34m without a miss yesterday to secure the gold.
Britain picked up silver when Germaine Mason — who competed for Jamaica until 2006 and still holds the national record in the Caribbean nation — cleared 2.34.
Former world indoor champion Yaroslav Rybakov got bronze for Russia at the same height, adding to his silvers at the 2001, 2005 and last year’s world championships.
PHOTO: AP
Defending champion Stefan Holm of Sweden was fourth at 2.32 after missing attempts at two greater heights.
Holm, 32, had said he intended to retire if he retained the Olympic title, and he will be disappointed to have failed to have at least made the podium.
With a pudding-bowl, 1970s style haircut and an ice-cold expression, Silnov, the son of a miner, looked like he had walked straight out of a Cold War movie, but his face lit up once he knew he had gold.
The 25-year-old Mason’s silver was a surprise — his previous best results at international level were a bronze at the world indoor championships in 2004 and a win in the Pan-American games in 2003 — both in the colors of Jamaica.
Meanwhile, Christine Ohuruogu of Great Britain produced a stunning race to add Olympic gold to the world and Commonwealth crowns she already owns, winning the women’s 400m in 49.62 seconds.
The 24-year-old, who served a one year ban for missing three dope tests, beat Shericka Williams of Jamaica while Sanya Richards of the US took bronze (49.93sec).
Ohuruogu looked out of it rounding the bend and with 100m to go. However, down the straight Richards started to tie up and Ohuruogu’s more measured and controlled race paid off as she passed two Russians and then the final prize of 23-year-old Richards.
Ohuruogu crossed the line just ahead of the fast finishing Williams, who had passed Richards.
Estonia’s Gerd Kanter won gold in the men’s discus with Poland’s Piotr Malachowski taking the silver medal and Lithuania’s Virgilijus Alekna, the gold medal winner in the last two Games, having to settle for bronze this time.
Dawn Harper put in a storming finish to win the women’s 100m hurdles gold.
The 24-year-old American took full advantage when her compatriot and favourite Lolo Jones hit the penultimate hurdle, crossing the line in 12.54 seconds to win her first major international title.
Australia’s Sally McLellan was awarded silver and Canadian Priscilla Lopes-Schliep bronze with the same time of 12.64.
Rashid Ramzi handed Bahrain its first-ever Olympic medal when he won the men’s 1500m gold.
The 28-year-old Moroccan-born runner, who moved to Bahrain to join the army won in 3min 32.94sec.
Asbel Kipruto Kiprop of Kenya claimed silver in 3:33.11 with New Zealander Nicholas Willis winning bronze in 3:34.16.
The field set off at a slow pace led by the two Kenyan runners and the athletes arrived at the bell bunched in a tight cluster before Ramzi made his move.
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