Justin Gatlin, the 2005 world champion, staged by far the biggest surprise of the London world championships as he edged defending champion Usain Bolt to take the world title here on Saturday.

Bolt, running his last world championships, finished with a bronze medal but was treated by the capacity crowd and the organisers as a winner, receiving undimishing cheers and applause from the adoring spectators and doing the lap of honour as if he had won, Xinhua reported.

Advertisement

"The place is wonderful and I appreciated this crowd so much. It is just one of those things, thank you to London for all your love and appreciation," said the Jamaican "lightning".

Gatlin became the most subdued world champion when he came back from behind to win in 9.92 seconds, leaving his younger American compatriot Christian Coleman to the second place.

His victory was even booed by the partisan spectators.