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Disgraced Chambers takes silver
08/03/2008 13:09 - (SA)
Valencia - Nigeria's Olusoji Fasuba won the men's 60m gold medal at the World Indoor Championships on Friday in a time of 6.51 seconds, equalling the fastest time in the world this year.
The African record holder shrugged off his reputation for choking on the big occasion to be a convincing winner, having also run 6.51 in the semi-finals earlier in the day.
Dwain Chambers, controversially selected by Britain, despite having served a two-year drugs suspension after being involved in the infamous BALCO doping scandal, took silver in a personal best of 6.54.
"I felt great," said the 23-year-old champion. "After the semi-final (where he set the fastest time) I strongly believed that I would win the gold."
Chambers's silver medal was greeted with some whistles from the crowd in reaction to the circumstances surrounding his presence but, like with his wins in the heats and semi-finals, the protests were more muted than organisers had expected.
"I have succeeded in winning back the respect of other athletes and spectators. That's the most important thing for me," said Chambers.
"I can't please everybody but I got a medal for my country. I wanted to go and win, and I put my self under more pressure than anything. The better man won on the day," added the 29-year-old.
Chambers deliberately avoided any provocative comments about his future.
However, he didn't rule out legal action against UK Athletics and the British Olympic Association in order to be able to compete at the Beijing Olympics.
"I want to check my situation, check if it's worth appealing and if there's a chance of me winning then it's something we will consider," he said.
"But for now I just want to celebrate with my team-mates and go and have some fun."
Veteran sprinter Kim Collins was in a photo-finish with Chambers for second place, after several years of struggling to get back to the level which earned him the 2003 World Championships 100m gold medal.
Three other gold medals were decided on the opening day of the Championships which end on Sunday.
Like Fasuba, American shot putter and 2004 world indoor champion Christian Cantwell had the burden of not always performing according to his reputation when it mattered but he came from behind to win with 21.77m.
United States' sprinter Angela Williams, a silver medallist over 60m at the 2001 and 2003 World Indoor Championships, put behind her four years of injuries and heartache to win in 7.06 seconds, the fastest time in 2008.
"I've had so many operations, injuries and set backs in the last few years that I'm just happy to be back competing at this level. I came here for a gold medal but I'm enjoying it so much more," said the delighted Californian.
Belgium's Tia Hellebaut got her country's first ever gold medal in the history of the Championships when she took the women's pentathlon with 4 867 points.
Hellebaut is the reigning European indoor high jump champion but switched back to the five-event discipline this winter, at which she started her international career, as a respite from high jump training.
It proved to be a profitable move, with a $40 000 first prize at stake, as she upset the odds and beat the British favourite Kelly Southerton by 15 points.
- AFP
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