29 Jul 2010

Lamaitre wins 100 gold in Barcelona

11:56 am on 29 July 2010

Frenchman Christophe Lemaitre blazed to 100 metres gold at the European athletics championships in Barcelona in 10.11 seconds as the next four athletes clocked the same time in a photo finish.

Lemaitre set off on his lap of honour wearing a cowboy hat and carrying the French flag while the others looked up at the big screen as officials decided who the minor medals after they all ran the same time of 10.18 seconds.

Britain's Mark Lewis-Francis took silver and Frenchman Martial Mbandjock the bronze.

Portugal's European record holder and 2006 champion Francis Obikwelu was fourth and pre-race favourite Dwain Chambers of Britain finished fifth.

Chambers and Lewis-Francis were quickest away but Lemaitre, the fastest European this year after setting a national record of 9.98 in July, came powering through at 60 metres to cross the line first.