BBC SPORT | Athletics | European Athletics | Chambers finally comes good

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Dwain Chambers finally grabbed his first major international title with a sensational run in the European men's 100m final in Munich.

The pre-race favourite got off to flying start and the result was never in doubt as he came home in a new championship record and personal best of 9.96 seconds.

This one is for Ross... I just wanted to go out there and get the gold for him

Dwain Chambers

Chambers' performance made up for the disappointment of the Commonwealth Games 100m final in which both he and Mark Lewis-Francis pulled up injured.

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Fellow Briton Darren Campbell, the 1998 champion, grabbed bronze in 10.15 behind Portugal's Frances Obikwelu who set a new national record of 10.06.

Chambers said aftewards: "It's been a hard year for me. I have been running really consistently but I had the downfall in the Commonwealth Games.

"It was really hard to pick myself up from that but I've done it now and have a new PB.

Dwain Chambers celebrates with his gold medal
Chambers says he was questioning himself
"I was even questioning myself (after Manchester) which is one of the reasons I didn't read the papers as I was getting a rollicking.

"But all the hard work I have been doing has paid off."

The atmosphere on the Olympiastadion starting line was tense as the athletes took several minutes to settle on their blocks.

When they eventually did, Georgios Theodoridis of Greece false-started, although Campbell looked to have set off a fraction before him.

Chambers proves critics wrong

Campbell was giving the yellow flag on the second false start, but Theodoridis then put himself out of the race with a second.

Chambers maintained his composure to make one of his best-ever starts in a major race and was on his way to victory after 10 metres.

He crossed the line streets ahead of his rivals to lay the ghost of previous failures to rest.

I didn't think I could come here and do something constructive, so I'm ecstatic

Darren Campbell

Chambers revealed later that he was going to dedicate the gold medal to Ross Baillie.

The Scottish 110m hurdler died in 1999 from an extreme allergic reaction after eating a chicken sandwich which contained nuts.

"This one is for Ross," said Chambers. "He was a great friend of Darren and I and a great friend of the team.

"What happened to him was very hard to take for everyone in the team. I just wanted to go out there and get the gold for him."


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