University of Bath-based Dai Greene wins 400m hurdles gold at IAAF World Championships
University of Bath-based Dai Greene produced an outstanding performance to strike 400m hurdles gold at the World Championships in South Korea today (Thursday).
It means Greene, who is coached by Malcolm Arnold – UK Athletics National Events Coach – Hurdles, adds the World crown to the European and Commonwealth titles he won last year.
Greene becomes only the seventh British man to win gold in individual event at an athletics World Championships. His medal is Britain’s first gold of the World Championships and Britain’s 16th gold in World Championships history.
Greene was second to Puerto Rico’s Javier Culson going into the final hurdle but produced a strong finish to cross the line in first in 48.26 seconds.
Afterwards a delighted Greene said: “I was desperate to come away with the gold. I’m really relieved and really proud. I’ve been working so hard for this over the years.
“I was working really hard going into the last hurdle. I had so much momentum I thought ‘I’m not letting this go’.
He also paid tribute to coach Malcolm Arnold. “I wouldn’t as be successful if it wasn’t for him,” he said.
Stephen Baddeley, Director of Sport at the University of Bath, said: “I’d like to congratulate Dai on this fantastic achievement.
“Dai has produced some outstanding results since he’s been training with Malcolm Arnold in Bath. Winning the Europeans and Commonwealths last year were impressive enough, but adding gold at the World Championships takes Dai to another level.
“There’s just one more gold for Dai to add to his collection at 2012 to complete the set.”
Jack Green, who trains with Dai Greene and is studying Sports Performance at the University of Bath, said: “It was a brilliant performance. It what he’s aimed for this year and I’m so happy for him. He’s got a lot of guts and he came through strongly. He really deserves this.”
Greene became only the seventh British man to win gold in an individual event at a World Championships, following in the footsteps of Linford Christie (100m 1993), Steve Cram (1500m 1983), Colin Jackson (110m hurdles 1993 & 1999), Phillips Idowu (triple jump 2009), Jonathan Edwards (triple jump 1995 & 2001) and Daley Thompson (decathlon 1983.)
He is also only the second British man o win a medal in the 400m hurdles, following Kriss Akabusi’s bronze in 1991.
Colin Jackson was also coached by Malcolm Arnold and trained at the University of Bath.
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