South Africa’s Prudence Sekgodiso ran out of steam to finish last in the Paris Olympics women’s 800m final on Monday night.
Sekgodiso started well, and looked to be in with a chance of winning a medal when the runners went into the home straight for the final lap.
However, with eventual winner Keely Hodgkinson of Great Britain finding her second wind, Sekgodiso began to tire, and eventually fell all the way to the back of the queue to finish dead last.
It was a disappointing finish for the young South African, who was rated as a genuine medal contender before the games, and the heir apparent to the country’s 800m icon Caster Semenya.
With Sekgodiso just 22 years old, reaching the final was a huge achievement, and a big future lies ahead for the Tuks athlete who has thrilled the crowds in Paris.
Thrilling run by Hodgkinson
Hodgkinson timed 1min 56.72sec for victory, with Ethiopian Tsige Duguma claiming silver in 1:57.15 and Kenya's Mary Moraa taking bronze (1:57.42).
The 22-year-old Briton, who won silver in the Covid-delayed Tokyo Games three years ago, and is also a two-time world silver medallist, held her nerve perfectly at the bell.
The chasing field was closely packed, Moraa on her shoulder all the way around the far straight, before launching an attack with 200 metres to go.
Hodgkinson showed all her nervy steel to hold her off and even put in a spurt to give herself some breathing space.
Moraa was eventually overtaken by Duguma at the line.
Hodgkinson becomes the third British woman to win Olympic 800m gold after Anne Packer in 1964 and Kelly Holmes in 2004.
IOL Sport, additional reporting by AFP