German Holzdeppe takes shock pole vault gold

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Germany's Raphael Holzdeppe was a shock winner of the men's world pole vault title on Monday as he edged red-hot favourite Frenchman Renaud Lavillenie on countback.

Holzdeppe of Germany celebrates after clearing the bar at the men's pole vault final during the IAAF World Athletics Championships at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow

Both men failed three times to clear 5.96 metres but the German had been faultless in moving up through the heights to notch 5.89 and add world gold to his Olympic bronze last year.

Olympic champion Lavillenie, who had dominated the event all season, was uncharacteristically off form and had several failures along the way before settling for silver, also on 5.89.

Bjorn Otto of Germany took bronze on countback ahead of American Brad Walker after both men cleared 5.82.

(Editing by Ed Osmond)