 Bergqvist added gold to her two previous world bronze medals |
Swedish favourite Kajsa Bergqvist soared to her first world outdoor high jump gold with a world-leading effort of 2.02m in Helsinki. The 28-year-old, who missed last year's Olympic Games with a career-threatening Achilles tendon injury, failed only one jump on her way to the title.
American Chaunte Howard, who battled it out with Bergqvist, reached a personal best of 2.00m to take silver.
Sweden's Emma Green also recorded a lifetime best of 1.96m to claim bronze.
"It's been my dream my whole life to win a world title and now it's happened," Bergqvist told BBC Sport.
"Howard was jumping so well, I knew I had to continue to keep the pressure on her."
Once the title was secured in front of a roaring crowd, Bergqvist made three attempts at 2.10m in a bid to break the world record.
The Swede failed to clear the bar but admitted she was in such high spirits she felt she had nothing to lose.
"There's not many days in your life that you feel so good," said Bergqvist. "So I went for the world record.
"This spring I was struggling with injury and thought maybe it wouldn't be possible to jump again but it got better and better."
MMIX
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