Tokyo ¨C Tanzania¡¯s Alphonce Felix Simbu produced a savage dip at the line to snatch world marathon gold from Germany¡¯s Amanal Petros in Tokyo on Monday.
Simbu and Eritrea-born Petros were both clocked at 2hr 09min 48sec in the most dramatic of endings for the longest event of the world championships in the Japanese capital.
Italy¡¯s Iliass Aouani claimed bronze in 2:09:53.
There was a 88-strong field from 47 countries that took to the streets of Tokyo for the gruelling 26-mile (42km) race.
But many wilted in the hot, stifling morning conditions.
Not least Ethiopia¡¯s Tadese Takele, who pulled out at the 33km mark, switching his watch off and climbing over a barrier from the road onto a pavement, seemingly grimacing in pain.
Takele had won the Tokyo Marathon in March in 2:03:23, making him the fastest entrant for the marathon at the world championships.
His Ethiopian teammate Deresa Geleta, second to Takele in the Tokyo Marathon, was the next high-profile casualty, pulling up at 35.5km.
Uganda¡¯s Abel Chelangat had paced much of the race, leading a definitive break-out at the 39.5km mark that split the lead pack to five, including all three medalists.
As they approached the stadium, Chelangat and Ethiopian-born Israeli Haimro Alame were suddenly dropped.
Petros led the podium trio onto the track for what proved to be a totally gripping final 300 meters.
The German opened up down the back straight, but was tracked by Simbu ¡ª second at this year¡¯s Boston Marathon in 2:05:05 ¡ª with Aouani back in third.
Petros looked like he had the win as he neared the finish line, but with Simbu fast advancing with a last-gasp spurt of energy, the German could do nothing bar glance nervously over his right shoulder as his legs tied up.
Simbu¡¯s persistence paid off as the 33-year-old broke the line just ahead of Petros, who tumbled to the ground, and added gold to his bronze won back in 2017.
Uganda¡¯s defending champion Victor Kiplangat came in 11th place in 2:11:33.
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