Amos upstages Rudisha in Glasgow

Botswana's Nijel Amos has delivered a magic moment for the Glasgow Games after storming home to upset Kenya's 800m world record holder David Rudisha.

Botswana's Nijel Amos wins the 800m final

Botswana's Nijel Amos has produced the upset of the Glasgow Games to claim gold in the 800m final. (AAP)

With an explosive final burst, Botswana's Nijel Amos has proven Commonwealth Games gold isn't a given even for true sporting royalty.

Amos produced the upset of the Glasgow Games so far as he turned the tables on Kenyan track legend David Rudisha in Thursday's 800m final.

World record holder and Olympic champion Rudisha, one of the world's most dominant track athletes in recent years, turned for home in front on a rain-sodden track at Hampden Park.

But the 25-year-old's 2013 injury woes caught up with him over the last 100m as as Olympic silver medallist Amos stormed home to claim victory in one minute and 45.18 seconds.

Rudisha, failing to replicate several reigning Olympic champions who have dominated in track and field this week, took silver in 1:45.48 with South Africa's Andre Olivier taking bronze in 1:46.03.

"I'm a little bit sad, but I'm fine," said Rudisha, who missed most of last season due to a knee injury.

"I would have wished to do better and maybe win a gold medal here but it has been a tough season for me and I really did not have enough preparation.

"I'm finding it a little bit difficult in the (last) 100m. I think it's all about preparation and I didn't do enough - I'm lacking something.

"I think next year will be a better year for me."

Amos paid tribute to his great Kenyan rival.

"This gentleman will always be the hero of the 800m," said Amos, who was second when Rudisha smashed the world record in the London Olympic final."

On another high-quality night of track and field, Nigerian Blessing Okagbare claimed a women's sprint double, dominating the 200m final after also winning Monday's 100m.

Rasheed Dwyer led a Jamaican cleansweep of the men's 200m to emulate teammate Kemar Bailey-Cole's victory in the 100m.

The two sprint golds for Jamaica came in the absence of the their sprint superstar Usain Bolt, who will only compete in the 4x100m relay starting on Friday.

Vikas Shive Gowda won the men's discus, ending India's 56-year gold medal drought in men's athletics at the Commonwealth Games, while Sally Pearson cast a dramatic 24 hours aside to top the 100m hurdles heats.

Earlier on Friday, England's Alex Dowsett and Linda Villumsen of New Zealand won gold medals in the men's and women's cycling individual time-trials.

Dowsett, second to David Millar four years ago, triumphed in closely-contested race through the streets and suburbs of Glasgow with Australian rider Rohan Dennis taking silver.

Scottish star Millar finished eighth.

"I had pretty low expectations and I fulfilled them," he said.

Along with the cycling gold, England collected three of the five gold medals on offer in gymnastics to boot well clear atop the medal tally.

They now have 44 gold medals, eight more than rivals Australia, and appear certain to top the tally for the first time since the Edinburgh Games in 1986.

Canada are third with 27 gold, picking up two in wrestling and another in weightlifting, with George Kobaladze taking the +105kg title in an upset.


Share

3 min read

Published

Updated


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world