RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – Thiago Braz da Silva’s surprising pole vault victory ensured Brazil’s first gold medal in the Olympic Stadium, sparking euphoric celebrations.
Advertisement
Da Silva entered the competition at 5.65m and cleared that on his first attempt while Lavillenie got started with a first-time clearance of 5.75m, a height which took the Brazilian two goes.
The Olympic record put the 22-year-old Brazilian in gold-medal position, but Lavillenie still had a chance to win.
Inclement weather meant the stadium was less than half full, but the noise Da Silva generated after his last attempt was as loud as any heard at these Games. Braz Thiago da Silva won the gold medal.
The world champion and world record-holder hit the front in the final 300m and had one more gear than his rivals as he swept to the line in 1min 42.15sec.
Lavillenie had no trouble at 5.98 meters to set an Olympic record and take over gold medal position.
Defending champion David Rudisha of Kenya became the first athlete in 52 years to win consecutive Olympic titles in the 800 meters in a time of 1:42.15.
Bronze medallist Sam Hendricks, stressing that vaulters often had to block out external factors, said he had taken the crowd’s booing with a “grain of salt”.
“This is the second time that I missed the world record”, Jebet said.
“In our country they want the guy from Brazil to win”, he said.
Renaud Lavillenie won a silver medal last night but he was not a happy man.
“I thought, “this is that day”, she said.
Advertisement
Off-field hiccups have dogged the Rio Games but there could have been tragic consequences when a suspended TV camera the size of a small motorbike crashed at the Olympic Park precinct. “I think I’m the happiest woman in the world right now”. Genzebe Dibaba is expected to be among them with the women’s 1500m final to be run, while Usain Bolt is back in action – in the 200m heats.
