Taylor extends US reign in 400m hurdles

Angelo Taylor won gold on Wednesday in the Olympic men's 400 metres hurdles to erase his 1999 world championships disappointment and extend the US dominance of the event.

He timed 47.50 seconds to beat Hadi Souan Somayli (47.53), winner of Saudi Arabia's first ever Olympic medal, with Llewellyn Herbert of South Africa third in 47.81.

Taylor, who started in the tough inside lane, came off the bend well behind Somayli but finished strongly, eyes bulging as he approached the final hurdles.

He then dropped to his knees as if in prayer as he looked up at the scoreboard. Realising he had won the gold, he then set off on a victory lap with the American flag.

All three medallists set new personal bests.

Taylor, 21, came to Sydney with the year's best time of 47.62 but should also have come to Australia as the world champion.

He missed out on that honour last year, however, going out in the heats in Seville after thinking the first three qualified when it was actually the first two.

It was the fifth Olympics in a row that an athlete from the United States has won the title. In all, the Americans have won the event 17 times out of 22.

Mail your comments