American Tyson Gay surged past Jamaica's Asafa Powell to win gold in the men's 100 metres at the world championships in Osaka.
Gay caught world record holder Powell after 50 metres and clocked 9.85 seconds, with Derrick Atkins of Bahamas finishing strongly to take silver in 9.91.
Powell, whose world record of 9.77 was never in danger in balmy conditions in Osaka, trailed home in 9.96 to take bronze.
‘When I started, I made a big mistake,’ Powell told French TV. ‘I stumbled and couldn't get the rhythm I wanted but I'm still content with bronze.’
Neither Gay nor Powell had previously won a world title, Powell missing the 2005 championships in Helsinki through injury and Gay finishing fourth in the 200 metres.
Gay ran the season's fastest time of 9.84 at the U.S. Championships in June but had lost all his past five meetings against Powell -- all last year.
The American gained revenge in style, however, as he left Powell for dead over the second half to underline his status as this year's top sprinter.
