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August 8, 2010

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Bolt from the blue as Gay triumphs

TYSON Gay handed world and Olympic champion Usain Bolt his first defeat in 15 100-meter finals at the Diamond League meeting in Stockholm on Friday.

With the two fastest men in the world facing each other down, American Gay emerged victorious in a stadium-record time of 9.84 seconds with Bolt second in 9.97.

Richard Thompson of Trinidad finished third in 10.10.

Gay told reporters: "I know Usain Bolt is not in his best shape, but I'm still happy with the victory.

"My body worked well today, I was excited and motivated. The start was OK but I must admit I was surprised not seeing Usain in front after half the race."

Jamaica's Bolt said: "It was an alright performance, it wasn't one of my best. I need to work on my strength, my strength is really low. It let me down in the first 30 meters and Tyson was in the better shape so he won the race."

Bolt, who has been troubled by an Achilles injury, has said he is treating this year as an "off year."

Asafa Powell defeated compatriot Bolt at the same meet two years ago, but pulled out of this year's race on Wednesday with a back injury, denying fans the chance to see the first race between the world's three fastest men since Bolt stormed to a new world record of 9.58 last August at the world championships in Berlin.

In other top-flight action, Sweden's ace triple jumper Christian Olsson showed welcome signs of a return to form after a heel injury which kept him out of last week's European championships in Barcelona.

Former world and Olympic champion, Olsson was delighted with his second place to Teddy Tamgho of France and a season-best of 17.32.

He said: "Second place, four centimeters behind No. 1. He's probably No. 1 in the world even though he didn't win the European championship. I must be pleased with that."

Croatia's European high jump champion Blanka Vlasic defied fatigue to claim her fifth straight Diamond League victory over Chaunte Lowe of the United States who had to be content with second again.

"I was so empty after the Europeans," said Vlasic, who scaled 2.02 meters. "I expected to be more fresh but I guess I wasted too much energy."

Local favorite and European silver medalist Emma Green came third with 1.94 with Lowe clearing 2.0 meters.

Allyson Felix won the women's 200 in 22.41 in an American sweep of the podium; Shalonda Solomon was second in 22.51, and Bianca Knight third with 22.59.

Australian Sally Pearson won the women's 100 hurdles in 12.57, beating Canada's Priscilla Lopes-Schliep in 12.59 and Lolo Jones of the US, who was third, clocking 12.70.

Dariya Klishina of Russia won the women's long jump in 6.78, beating American Brittney Reese by three centimeters. "I missed Barcelona so this is something special for me, the first Diamond League win of my career," said Klishina.

 

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