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Caster Semenya wins women's 800m Olympic gold as athletics programme concludes

By Andy Charles

Sunday 21 August 2016 05:12, UK

South Africa's Caster Semenya celebrates victory in the women's 800m final
Image: South Africa's Caster Semenya celebrates victory in the women's 800m final

Caster Semenya won her first Olympic Games gold medal with a dominant display in the final of the women's 800m in Rio.

The South African star set a new personal best of 1:55.33 over the two-lap distance and broke the national record in going one better than her silver medal performance at London 2012.

"The race was a little bit quick, the first 400 we were pushing ourselves, it was great," Semenya said. "It was just about being patient and do what you do best."

Britain's Lynsey Sharp also set a huge personal best of 1:57.69 to finish sixth, and she added: "It was a great race to be part of.

"I knew it was going to be very competitive and to run my fastest ever time in an Olympic final, I have to be happy with but I'm a little bit frustrated because I know that I can go faster than that.

Britain's Lynsey Sharp applauds after competing in the Women's 800m Semifinal during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadi
Image: Lynsey Sharp finished sixth in the 800m final

"It wasn't necessarily about times but being competitive and I feel like I did myself justice."

Morgan Lake finished 10th in the women's high jump, which was won by Spain's Ruth Beitia.

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Britain's Morgan Lake competes in the Women's High Jump Final during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Jan
Image: Morgan Lake cleared 1.93m but that was only good enough for 10th in the high jump

Lake cleared 1.93m but that was four centimetres off the winning jump, although the gold medal was secured with a success one centimetre lower than the new British record achieved by Katarina Johnson-Thompson in the heptathlon last weekend.

Charlie Grice finished the 1,500m final 12th in 3:51.73, with the gold medal going to Matthew Centrowitz of the United States in something of an upset.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 18: Charlie Grice of Great Britain reacts after competing in the Men's 1500m Semifinal on Day 13 of the Rio 2016 Olympic G
Image: Charlie Grice faded into 12th in the 1,500m final

"Very happy to be here but was hoping to perform a bit better than that," Grice said. "But, still, I can hold my head high because apart from the Spanish guy (David Bustos) I was the only European in that race."

Germany's Thomas Rohrer was the only thrower to pass the 90-metre mark in the final of the men's javelin, with his throw of 90.30m enough to secure gold.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 20: Gold medalists Arman Hall, Tony McQuay, Gil Roberts and Lashawn Merritt of the United States stand on the podium durin
Image: Arman Hall, Tony McQuay, Gil Roberts and Lashawn Merritt of the United States won the 4x400m relay

And the final gold of the track and field competition was won by the United States as Arman Hall, Tony McQuay, Gil Roberts and Lashawn Merritt won the men's 4x400m relay.

The USA topped the athletics medal table with 13 golds, 10 silvers and eight bronzes, with Team GB sixth on seven medals, matching the target set for them before the Games by UK Sport.

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