AUSTRALIA’S Sally Pearson has claimed a stunning gold medal victory in the women’s 100 metre hurdles on a day of high-profile farewells in London.

Two farewells ended in tears as Mo Farah was beaten in the final of the 5000m at his final championship, while the legendary Usain Bolt’s career finished in the worst possible fashion — with the star sprinter suffering an apparent hamstring injury in his final ever race, the 4x100m relay.

Britain won the relay with Bolt pulling up lame on the home straight and collapsing to the ground with the crowd in shock.

SALLY PEARSON: ‘I’M THE FASTEST NOW’

SOFTLY, SOFTLY RETURN FOR CANDICE

BRAIN FADE SHOCK AT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

STRATTON LEAPS INTO AUSSIE HISTORY

PEARSON CLAIMS SECOND WORLD TITLE

Sally Pearson has capped an extraordinary comeback from injury by winning gold in the 100m hurdles at the world athletics championships. Competing at her first major global championship since 2013 and having overcome serious wrist, hamstring and achilles injuries, Pearson powered away from the field on Saturday to win in 12.59 seconds.

Her long-time rival Dawn Harper-Nelson from the United States was second in 12.63 and Germany’s Pamela Dutkiewicz claimed the bronze in 12.72. World record holder Kendra Harrison from the US finished out of the medals in fourth place.

“That was bloody hard,” an emotional Pearson said shortly after crossing the finish line.

“I’ve worked so hard, I don’t know what has just happened out there. “I’m so tired but I’m sure it will sink in soon.

“It’s been a long journey back from injury, but to get this moment and go and celebrate in front of my family is unreal.” It was a third major 100m hurdles title for Pearson, who had previously won gold at the 2011 world championships in Daegu and the 2012 London Olympics. The 30-year-old joined 400m runner Cathy Freeman and 400m hurdler Jana Pittman as the only Australians to have won two world track and field titles. Her next challenge will be winning a third successive Commonwealth title on home soil on the Gold Coast next year.

Sally Pearson of Australia celebrates with an Australian flag after winning gold in the Women's 100 metres hurdles final. Source: Getty Images

After injury denied Pearson of the opportunity to defend her Olympic crown last year in Rio, she decided to coach herself.

It proved to be masterstroke.

She assumed favouritism for the world title by clocking the fastest semi-final time of 12.53 on Friday evening and carried that dominance into the final. “I don’t know if it was surprise or what, but the emotion just escaped my body because I was so excited and so happy to have achieved what I have worked so hard for,” Pearson said.

“I love this stadium, I love the people and I’m so happy to have been back here doing the same thing again (winning gold).” It was the latest instalment of the great rivalry between Pearson and Harper- Nelson, with the American having relegated the Australian into second spot at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, only for Pearson to reverse that result four years later in London.

“Me and Sally have just battled it out for years and it’s been so great to be here with her,” said the 33-year-old Harper.

“Silver tastes like gold tonight.

“I am really excited to come out of this with a medal for the US. “At the end, I could see Sally had won and I thought ‘it’s me and Sally again’.”

BOLT AND FARAH BIG ADIEU

Athletics superstar Usain Bolt’s last championship race ended in dramatic fashion as he collapsed injured on the track anchoring Jamaica’s 4x100 metres relay in the world championship final.

Here AFP Sports picks out five of his best quotes and five about him since he first light up the championship track at the 2008 Beijing Olympics:

- What they said about him -

“There is no athlete that can compete with him... he’s a global superstar.” - Bolt’s predecessor as an athletics superstar, Michael Johnson, whose 200 metres world record Bolt broke in the 2008 Olympic final.

“You can compare us as sprinters, but the thing I am most proud of is that I did multiple events and I long-jumped.” - Damned with faint and grudging praise by American legend Carl Lewis who also cast aspersions as to the Jamaican doping system to which Bolt retorted: “Carl Lewis, I have no respect for him.”

Jamaica's Usain Bolt lays on the track after he pulled up injured in the final of the Men's 4x100m relay. Source: AP

“He is an icon. He is the best sprinter of all time.” - Former International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge, who was chided at the 2012 London Olympics for refusing to say he was a legend. Former Olympic yachtsman Rogge instead opted to nominate British yachting icon Ben Ainslie as his star of the Games.

“Nobody’s ever been faster than this guy! Ever! Of all the billions of people.” - Then-US President Barack Obama reflects on the global nature of Bolt’s stardom after meeting with him in Jamaica and then performing the lightning bolt pose with him.

“Usain Bolt is now Jamaica’s biggest ambassador. His personality, his ability to draw people to him (and) his showmanship have really given a boost to Brand Jamaica.” - Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness neatly sums up Bolt’s gift to the Caribbean island.

- Bolt on himself -

“I am Lightning Bolt! I am not Flash Gordon or anybody. My name is Bolt, Lightning Bolt.” - Bolt after smashing Michael Johnson’s 200m world record in the 2008 Beijing Olympic final to complete his first of three individual Olympic sprint doubles.

“Manners is the key thing. Say for instance when you’re growing up you’re walking down the street you’ve got to tell everybody good morning. Everybody. You can’t pass one person.” - Bolt displaying why he has charmed everyone along the way, never forgetting the strict but grounded way he was brought up by his parents, father Wellesley and mother Jennifer.

“People come to see you run fast, but they also come to see a show, a performance... that’s what I give them.” - Bolt savvy as ever and why athletics will miss him so much: not just for his jaw-dropping brilliance but also his ability to entertain.

“I’m now a legend, I’m also the greatest athlete to live. I am in the same category as Michael Johnson.” - Bolt after winning the 2012 Olympic 200m title to complete the individual sprint double double.

“If Queen Elizabeth knighthooded me and I would get the title Sir Usain Bolt. That would sound very nice.” - Bolt on the possibility of joining Mo Farah as a knight of the Realm. Not wholly implausible as he has been athletics’ knight in shining armour for nearly a decade.

**

Meanwhile, Muktar Edris of Ethiopia broke the hold of Mo Farah on long-distance running, outkicking the Briton over the final 200 meters to win the 5,000 meters at the world championships.

Ethiopia's Muktar Edris (L) wins ahead of Britain's Mo Farah (R). Source: AFP

In a tactical race, Farah could not respond to a challenge for the first time in six years, turning his farewell race on the track at a major championship into a disappointment.

Edris won in 13 minutes, 33.79 seconds, .43 seconds ahead of Farah in second. Farah was going for his fifth straight global long-distance double.

Paul Chelimo of the United States took bronze.

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