Dutch sensation Dafne Schippers clocked the fourth fastest run of all time to pip Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson by three-hundredths of a second and take 200 metres gold here on Friday.
The former heptathlete, who claimed silver in the 100 behind Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce on Monday, surged through the line in 21.63 seconds, the quickest time for 17 years in the half-lap sprint.
Only Americans Florence Griffith-Joyner, the world record holder, and Marion Jones, who was later banned for doping, have run faster.
“I can’t believe it,” Schippers told reporters. “What a race! What a tournament for me! I think they’ll be going crazy in the Netherlands at the moment.”
Thompson, 23, was second in a personal best 21.66 while bronze went to her compatriot, twice Olympic champion Veronica Campbell-Brown, in 21.97.
Schippers, taking part in her first major global championships as a sprinter, made a good start but had plenty to do to catch Thompson when they came off the bend.
The tall 23-year-old got into her powerful stride, however, and ate up the ground to overhaul her rival as she dipped for the line.
“Wow! Wow! Wow!” said Thompson, a student. “It has been a good feeling to compete with these ladies. Schippers is a great competitor. I am very, very pleased.
“After 100 metres I fought to keep Schippers away but I could not run faster than I did.”
Later, Schippers rejected any suggestion of doping after she smashed the 36-year-old European record. “I know I’m clean and I work very hard for it,” said Schippers.
“I do all the dope controls and I don't want to say more than that.”
Meanwhile in the men’s high hurdles, Russian Sergey Shubenkov, the two-time European champion, stormed to the title to shatter Olympic champion Aries Merritt’s hopes of an emotional gold days before he undergoes a kidney transplant.
“This bronze medal means more to me than my Olympic gold,” said the 30-year-old Merritt. “In 2013 when they told me I'd never run again that pretty much ended my life — it mentally destroyed me.”
Jamaican Danielle Williams won the women's 100m hurdles with a personal best of 12.57 seconds, with Germany's Cindy Roleder taking silver in 12.59 and Alina Talay bronze in a Belarus national record of 12.66.
American Tianna Bartoletta was crowned the women’s long jump champion thanks to a final effort of 7.14 metres. Bartoletta had previously won the title in Helsinki in 2005.
In the first final of the day, Liu Hong won the women’s 20 kilometres walk to hand China its first gold medal of the championships.
Liu gave home fans something to cheer when she headed a Chinese one-two in the walk with “little sister” Lu Xiuzhi.
The pair broke early and built up a massive lead in Beijing’s scorching morning heat, with Liu coming home for gold in one hour 27.45 minutes with Lu right behind her.
Meanwhile in a off-the-track development, it was revealed Russian walker Alexander Yargunkin will not compete in the championships following reports that he has failed a drugs test, a Russian anti-doping agency (RUSADA) official said on Friday.
The results:
Men: 110m hurdles: 1. Sergey Shubenkov (Rus) 12.98s, 2. Hansle Parchment (Jam) 13.03, 3. Aries Merritt (USA) 13.04.
Women: 20km race walk: 1. Liu Hong (Chn) 1:27:45, 2. Lu Xiuzhi (Chn) 1:27:45, 3. Lyudmyla Olyanovska (Ukr) 1:28:13.
Long jump: 1. Tianna Bartoletta (USA) 7.14m, 2. Shara Proctor (GBr) 7.07, 3. Ivana Spanovic (Srb) 7.01.
200m: 1. Dafne Schippers (Ned) 21.63s, 2. Elaine Thompson (Jam) 21.66, 3. Veronica Campbell-Brown (Jam) 21.97.
100m hurdles: 1. Danielle Williams (Jam) 12.57s, 2. Cindy Roleder (Ger) 12.59, 3. Alina Talay (Blr) 12.66.
