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Saturday, 27 July, 2002, 19:40 GMT 20:40 UK
Collins wins dramatic 100m
Kim Collins of St Kitts and Nevis blasted to victory in the 100m final as his two main rivals were knocked out of the race by injuries.
English favourites Dwain Chambers and Mark Lewis-Francis were both put under pressure by a powerful start from Collins.
And the pair stunned the Manchester crowd by pulling up in agony as they tried to put in a late burst.
Uchenna Emedolu of Nigeria took the silver medal and Canada's Pierre Browne claimed a surprise bronze.
Lewis-Francis looked ready to challenge Collins for gold in the closing stages.
But he slowed up clutching his leg and fell to the ground in pain.
Another poor start from Chambers left him with too much to do and he pulled up as Collins went on to cross the line in 9.98 seconds.
Collins, who won 200m bronze at the world championships last year, was left to savour victory as Chambers limped off and Lewis-Francis lay crying on the track.
Lewis-Francis tore a hamstring and was treated in the stadium's emergency room before being taken back to the athletes' village for further attention.
And he said of his injury: "I felt a sharp pain in the back of my leg, which got much worse when I fell down.
"I knew it was bad, so I stayed down. I feel sore, very sore," he told BBC Sport Online.
"I tried my best but it just didn't happen."
Chambers' injury appeared less serious and his coach, Mike McFarlane, said he was recovering on the warm-up track.
He said: "Dwain has experienced a recurrence of the cramping condition he experienced recently at Birmingham [in the AAA Championships]."
Despite his rivals' misfortune, Collins said he had been confident from the start and felt the pressure had got to the Englishmen.
"I can understand it because you push yourself too hard and then it takes its toll because your body is being pushed beyond its limits," the gold medallist said.
"I was just so relaxed and, as I said yesterday, it is not good to shine too bright too early - your wings can be clipped.
"I wore my lucky socks today and they more than played their role - I'm tempted never to wash them again!"
Lewis-Francis was eventually given seventh in 10.54 with Chambers eighth and last in 11.19.
The pair are now serious doubts for Britain's team in the European Championships in Munich, which begin on 6 August.
Nigeria's Deji Aliu was edged out of the medals by Browne, with Jamaica's Dwight Thomas fifth and England's Jason Gardener sixth.
Gardener admitted he felt sorry for his injured team-mates.
"It's not the best circumstances for the other guys," he said.
"It's tragic to see them both injured in the final but all credit to Kim Collins.
"He ran under 10 seconds - he did what had to be done."
26 Jul 02 | Athletics
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