Unstoppable Lemaitre earns double gold

by Tim Hanlon

ATHLETICS: BARCELONA, July 31 (AFP) - French sensation Christophe Lemaitre completed the sprint double at the European Championships on Friday by powering to victory in the 200 metres just two days after his 100m triumph.

With success in the shorter distance already under his belt, the 200m had appeared the easier event for the 20-year-old, who has shown no fear in Barcelona.

On paper Jaysuma Saidy Ndure of Norway was his closest rival, but British veteran Christian Malcom had a special run, leading right up to the line and finishing just a 100th of a second behind Lemaitre.

It had looked as though the Frenchman was too far behind but he stormed to the finish line to catch the tiring Malcolm.

“It was a very tight race. My start was not as good as I hoped and I had doubts in the middle of the race so I just tried to pick up well in the final metres,” said Lemaitre, who clocked 20.37sec.

Malcolm added: “I didn’t see Lemaitre and I didn’t even hear him come. I didn’t dip for the line because I really thought I had got it. Still, I am happy with the silver.”

Belgium’s Kevin Borlee took gold in the 400m in a season-best time of 45.08, with British pair Michael Bingham and Martyn Rooney taking silver and bronze respectively.

There was a Russian clean sweep in the women’s 400m final, with Tatyana Firova coming first in 49.89, the fastest time in Europe this season.

The Russians have an embarrassment of riches at this distance and Kseniya Ustalova, who had the previous fastest time, took silver with a personal best. World bronze medallist Antonina Krivoshapka came third. Britain’s Andy Turner took advantage of a stumble from the fastest European this year, Czech Petr Svoboda, to win the 110m hurdles. Turner came through with a season’s best time of 13.28sec to earn gold, while Garfield Darien, of France, and Daniel Kiss of Hungary, took silver and bronze respectively.