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  Rio 2016: David Rudisha ruthless but dives, Thiago Braz steal show

Rio 2016: David Rudisha ruthless but dives, Thiago Braz steal show

AFP
Published : Aug 17, 2016, 6:52 am IST
Updated : Aug 17, 2016, 6:52 am IST

Bolt continues treble quest as he storms into 200m semis, Croatia’s Perkovic retains women’s discus title

17TRUMP AP.jpg
 17TRUMP AP.jpg

Bolt continues treble quest as he storms into 200m semis, Croatia’s Perkovic retains women’s discus title

Kenya’s David Rudisha claimed a majestic Olympic double in the 800m as an unknown Brazilian pole vaulter scored a shock gold medal on a night of upsets.

Rudisha became the first man in 52 years to clinch back-to-back 800m titles after producing a phenomenal last lap kick to win in 1min 42.15. The last man to win consecutive 800m titles was New Zealand’s Peter Snell in 1960 and 1964.

Algeria’s reigning Olympic 1,500m champion Taoufik Makhloufi took silver in 1:42.61, with American Clayton Murphy claiming bronze in 1:42.93.

But Rudisha’s imperious performance was a rare example of form holding sway as upsets dominated on an evening of pulsating drama.

The biggest shock was scored by unheralded Brazilian Thiago Braz in the pole vault who conjured the performance of his life to dethrone France’s defending Olympic champion Renaud Lavillenie and spark bedlam amongst the fiercely partisan Rio crowd.

Braz, who had not even managed to qualify for the Worlds final last year, cleared 6.03 metres to set a new Olympic record.

World record holder Lavillenie then pitched everything on a last gasp vault at 6.08m but failed to leave 22-year-old home hero Braz celebrating a famous win. American Sam Hendricks took bronze with a vault of 5.85.

Miller dive stuns Felix Another stunning upset marked the conclusion of the women’s 400m, where world champion Allyson Felix was beaten by a spectacular head-first dive for the line by Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas.

Miller hurled herself across the line to win in 49.44sec with 2012 Olympic 200m champion Felix taking silver in 49.51.

Shericka Jackson of Jamaica claimed bronze in 49.85.

Bolt safely through 200m heats Usain Bolt took another step in his quest for an unprecedented sprint “triple triple” when he safely negotiated the first round of the 200m.

Bolt, who is desperate to better his 2009 world record best of 19.19sec, clocked 20.28sec in winning his first round heat, easing up a full 50 metres from the line.

American Justin Gatlin, who won silver behind Bolt in the 100m, also looked comfortable as he won his heat in 20.42sec.

Croatia’s Sandra Perkovic retained her Olympic discus crown with relative ease with a best heave of 69.21 metres. France’s Melina Robert Michon took silver in a national record 66.73 with world champion Denia Caballero of Cuba having to settle for bronze (65.34)

Taylor retains triple jump title Reigning champion Christian Taylor retained his Olympic triple jump title, the American comfortably seeing off his rivals in the Rio sunshine.

The 26-year-old world champion recorded a season’s best 17.86 metres on his first leap, good enough for gold as compatriot Will Claye took silver in a repeat of their positions in London four years ago. World indoor champion Dong Bin took bronze, China’s first Olympic triple jump medal.

Location: Brazil, Rio de Janeiro