Yuriy Borzakovskiy became the first Russian runner to win the Olympic Games men's 800 metres today.
Lying at the back of the eight-man field at the bell, Borzakovskiy unleashed his trademark sizzling sprint finish to go from fifth to first in the home straight, crossing the line in 1min 44.45sec.
Second was South Africa's Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, the world indoor champion, who finished in 1:44,61.
Denmark's Wilson Kipketer, the world record holder, added the bronze medal here to the silver he won in Sydney four years ago in 1:44.65.
At the bell, it was Algeria's Djabir Said Guerni, the reigning world champion and Kenya's Wilfred Bungei, the fastest man in the world for the last two seasons.
However, both men were outpaced for medals on the furious second lap.
Bungei took the lead shortly after the bell before Kipketer came around on the outside and hit the front 250m to the line.
But Borzakovskiy finished faster than anyone to edge in front
five metres out.
Filed by James Boylan
