American Quincy Hall became the fourth fastest man to run the 400m when he captured Olympic gold in 43.40sec to end a 16-year drought for his country in the discipline.
The 26-year-old beat Britain's Matthew Hudson-Smith, who set a new European record of 43.44sec, while Muzala Samukonga of Zambia took bronze in 43.74sec.
Hall is the first American to win the one lap race at the Olympics since LaShawn Merritt in Beijing in 2008.
Hall hit his timing perfectly, coming out of nowhere to overtake Hudson-Smith, who was leading into the turn and looked set to become the first British title winner since Eric Liddell at the Paris Olympics a century ago.
However, as in Budapest last year in the world final, Hudson-Smith slowed as he approached the line and again had to settle for silver.
Samukonga, who denied Hudson-Smith Commonwealth Games gold in 2022, also produced a storming finish to become only the third Zambian Olympic medallist and the first since Samuel Matete's silver in the men's 400m hurdles in 1996.
The 2012 Olympic champion. Kirani James looked in superb form in the laps before the final, but the 31-year-old's legs weakened entering the straights and he finished fifth. | BGNES
