Surprised Russian Maria Savinova overhauled Caster Semenya on the home straight to win the women's 800 metres gold and end the South African's controversial reign as world champion on Sunday. The 26-year-old Savinova, the fastest woman in the world this year, came through the field behind Semenya round the final bend and surged passed her rival to win in a world-leading time of one minute 55.87 seconds.
"I am quite surprised about my time and especially the power and endurance I found in my body in the last 100 metres," she told reporters. "In the last 30 metres I already knew I was going to win so I started to smile and crossed the finish line with a smiling face."
Semenya, banned from running for much of the first year of her reign as world champion while an IAAF investigation into her gender was conducted, claimed silver in 1.56.35, her best time of the year.