Golden boy Lemaitre lives his dream in Barcelona

In a superb final that fulfilled all expectations, except possibly for the times, France's Christophe Lemaitre lifted the gold medal, breaking the beam in 10.11 into a one-metre headwind, with Mark Lewis-Francis of Great Britain collecting a surprise silver. Bronze was also a surprise in the person of France's Martial Mbandjock, last year's Mediterranean Games champion.

There was enormous expectation before the race and it did not disappoint. Lemaitre had promised to do something special ever since he broke the French record at his country's trials with a time of 9.98.

He had lost to world and European indoor champion Dwain Chambers at the European team championships but only by the slender margin of 0.03. Could he turn the tables at the callow age of 20 years and 45 days on the ageing legs of 32-year-old Chambers? In short, the answer was an emphatic yes.

By winning in Barcelona, Lemaitre bridged a gap of 48 years, becoming the first Frenchman since Claude Piquemal in 1962 to lift gold, but it was what was happening behind him in the course of the race that was to provide all the drama.

This was meant to be a showdown between the French record holder and Chambers but the drama turned out to be far more complex.

Chambers in lane three, separated by two men – Norway's Jaysuma Saidy Ndure and Mbandjock - from Lemaitre in six, got the best start, Lemaitre the worst. But that, as it turned out, was not to have any effect on the outcome. Quite the opposite.

Lemaitre had appeared tense and nervous before the start, breathing deeply to calm his nerves. He was reported beforehand to be even more nervous about what he was going to do in the subsequent press conference. Not comfortable with speaking English, he was reported to be concerned about how he would get through it. That trial would have to wait though.

As the gun went Chambers leapt from his blocks, exploding into action, while the tall Frenchman unfurled his long frame and set about cutting down the deficit which had appeared in the blink of an eye.

Suddenly, a ripple ran through the crowd with the realisation that Chambers was not the only challenger to Lemaitre. On his inside, compatriot Lewis-Francis, who only got to the final on a fastest loser ticket, was hustling his way past in the race of a lifetime. Not since he won world junior gold had he looked so sharp in a major 100m final.

But Mbandjock, was also making dramatic headway as well as the defending champion, Obikwelu, coming back from retirement.

As they crossed the line, there was no doubt in Lemaitre's mind that he was the champion and the photo finish confirmed that. He immediately went over to the side of the track to drape himself in the Tricolour and face the cameras.

The minor medals, though, were a different matter. Lewis-Francis, Mbandjock, Obikwelu and Chambers waited for what seemed an eternity for the result to flash up on the stadium screen. Only Chamber's resigned smile, hands on head, suggested that he knew he was out of the medals.

Lewis-Francis, on the other hand was strutting around confidently and his confidence was well founded. Despite the next four finishers after Lemaitre being given the same time of 10.18, it was Lewis-Francis who had lifted silver and Mbandjock bronze.

From Lewis-Francis to Chambers, the times were taken down to the thousandths, Lewis-Francis timed at 10.172, Mbandjock 10.173, Obikwelu 10.174 and Chambers 10.178. It was a race fit for a championship.

Source: european-athletics.org