Rai Benjamin of the United States celebrates the victory and winning the gold
The USA’s Rai Benjamin was temporarily disqualified minutes after winning the gold medal in the men’s 400m hurdles in Tokyo.
The American knocked over the final hurdle, before coming home in first with a blazing time of 46.52secs.
But his collision on the last hurdle moved it into the path of Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel, who was initially fourth and just outside of the medals, handing him a disqualification, before the decision was reversed minutes later.
The controversial hit temporarily moved Brazilian Alison Dos Santos up to the gold and Qatar’s Ismail Doudai Abakar promoted to silver, while Norway’s Karsten Warholm was upset with a disappointing run to finish fifth initially.
Afterwards, a relieved Benjamin told RTE’s David Gillick: “I need that Guinness now!.”
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“That seems insane, he didn’t hit it on purpose, it didn’t affect the standings of the race, I think it’s very unfair,” said Jess Ennis-Hill on BBC Sport.
While Collin Jackson added: “That trail leg has got to go over the barrier completely.”
Benjamin was seen celebrating long after his race, and then continued to celebrate after the women’s 400m hurdles, which was won by the Netherlands’ Femke Bol, with American Jasmine Jones in silver.