Chinese teenager Wang Jianan pulled off China's first ever world long jump medal at Beijing athletics world championships on Tuesday when Olympic champion and world record holder David Rudisha took his second world title in 800m and Usain Bolt eased to the 200m semifinal.
Wang, turning 19 on Thursday, took a bronze medal with a leap of 8.18 meters, creating China's best performance in the men's long jump at world championships.
"I did not realize it will be my birthday until yesterday. I have been concentrated on training for the world championships. I was quite steady today," said Wang.
Wang emerged as the surprise medalist in the Chinese team as 2014 world indoor silver medalist Li Jinzhe had spearheaded China's charge in the event. Li had to settle for the fifth place with 8.10 after teammate Gao Xinglong with 8.14.
"I used 90 percent of my energy on my first attempt but it went bad. It was a blow to me," said Li, who only recorded 7.69 in his first attempt. "I don't know what happened. Maybe it is fate that I can't win a medal."
Britain's Olympic and European champion Greg Rutherford won his first long jump world title in five world championships after he established an almost unbeatable lead in his fourth attempt with 8.41.
Fabrice Lapierre of Australia finished second in 8.24.
"European champion, Olympic champion and now world champion - it is unbelievable. It is the most incredible thing. I have been dreaming of this day for a long time. I cann't believe I have done this," said the 28-year-old.
Defending champion Aleksandr Menkov of Russia was sixth. Title favorite Jeff Henderson of the United States shed tears after the 22-year-old failed to qualify for the final three rounds.
The men's 800m race saw Rudisha take back the world title in one minute 45.84 seconds. The Kenyan was sidelined with a knee injury for the best part of 2013, forced to forgo his world championships title defence in Moscow.
Poland's Adam Kszczot took silver in 1:46.08 and Amel Tuka of Bosnia and Herzegovina came third in 1:46.30.
Kenya's Nicholas Bett stunned the field to win his country's first 400m hurdles title at the world championships when he clocked 47.79 seconds for the gold. Russian Denis Kudryavtsev came second in 48.05 and Jeffery Gibson from Bahamas was third in 48.17.
Bett put on a strong performance to run the world leading time as 23-year-old he had never broken 49 seconds at sea level.
In women's events, Cuban discus thrower Denia Caballero beat Croatian Sandra Perkovic for the second time in the year and denied the latter's effort to win her second consecutive world title as she nailed the gold medal on her first throw of 69.28 meters.
Perkovic had to settle for the silver on 67.39m while German Nadine Muller came third in 65.53.
The 25-year-old Perkovic just lost four times in three years she has tasted defeat only four times but her loss to Gaballero hinted the upset in Beijing.
Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia clocked 4:08.09 to win the women's 1,500m gold medal and Faith Chepngetich Kipyegon of Kenya claimed silver in 4:08.96. Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands took bronze in 4:09.34.
Bolt, who just defended the 100m title on Sunday, strolled to qualify for the 200m semifinal in 20.28 seconds.
