WRITTEN FOR THE IAAF WEBSITE
Adam Kszczot has collected silver medals from the past three global championships indoors and out but today, he finally achieved an upgrade as he sped to a dominant 800m victory.
The 28-year-old 2014 world indoor runner-up took off like a rocket from the midway point – reached in 55.77 – to capture the most important win of his career, which is the pinnacle of a superb season in which the Pole notched up no less than eight straight victories over the four-lap distance.
The five-time European champion and 2010 bronze medalist has now completed the set of world indoor medals, despite tonight’s golden performance coming in his second-slowest time of the winter.
The 2018 IAAF World Indoor Tour winner stopped the clock at 1:47.47 and said afterwards:
“My first gold for the world indoors – now I have a nice collection of all three medals. It may look easy from the outside but it was a very difficult race, especially mentally. I knew that the Spaniards would watch me but I was ready for this, I knew how to deal with it.
“I have cooperated with a famous psychologist so it has helped me a lot. I just fixed my mind and went for the victory. I want to dedicate this medal to my son who was born just last year.”
In the silver medal position, Spain’s 2015 European under-23 silver medalist, Saul Ordonez registered 1:48.01 to push the Great British hope, Elliot Giles into the bronze medal spot with 1:48.22.
The 23-year-old European outdoor bronze medalist again excited his local Birchfield Harriers club supporters, as he sped to his first global championship medal in the process.
Having improved his lifetime best by over two seconds in the semi final with 1:45.46 in this – his debut indoor season – Giles sprinted into the medals in the closing yards and was followed home by Spain’s European indoor bronze medalist, Alvaro de Arriba, who clocked 1:48.51 for fourth place.
In fifth, Mostafa Smaili of Morocco – the 2016 world junior bronze medalist – paid the price for taking on the early lead until the 400m mark (through 200m in 26.73) and finished in 1:48.75 – one placing ahead of his 2016 position.
Meanwhile, the USA’s Drew Windle was disqualified from the silver medal position for jostling.
