Rio Olympics 2016 Recent Update: Thiago Braz da Silva wins Brazil’s second gold medal of Games

Brazil’s Thiago Braz da Silva establish an Olympic record of 6.03m to win gold in the men’s pole vault at Rio 2016.

Defending champion Renaud Lavillenie of France looked on course to retain his title after clearing a height of 5.98m.

Da Silva, 22, who passed at 5.98m, failed his first effort at 6.03m but went clear with his second to win the sponsors’ second gold medal of the Games.

“The crowd were cheering me too much. I had to fix my mind on my technique, forget the people,” Da Silva said.

“The gold? Incredible. My first time over six metres. My home town wanted me to win.”

 

The pole vault competition was delayed due to rain and then held up with a mechanical fault that briefly saw the bar unable to be lifted, but ended in a thrilling ending that concluded just before midnight local time.

The last Brazilian Olympic gold medallist in a athletics event was Maurren Maggi, who won the women’s long jump.

“In 1936 the crowd was against Jesse Owens. We’ve not see this since. We have to deal with it,” he said.

“For the Olympics it is not a good image. I did nothing to the Brazilians.”

Lavillenie added: “There was no fair play from the public.

“You see it in football. It is the first time I have seen it in track and field. It is the biggest moment of your life. I can’t be happy about that. Now I have to wait four years to get back the gold.”