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| |  Friday, 9 August, 2002, 18:16 GMT 19:16 UK Diagana strikes hurdles gold  Diagana returned to his best in style after injury France's Stephane Diagana put years of injury torment behind him to win the European Championships 400m hurdles title in Munich. Diagana proved to be a class above the rest of the field to take gold in a superb 47.59secs, the fastest time in the world this year. The 1997 world champion can finally call himself European champion at the fourth attempt after an injury-plagued career that has seen him miss the last two Olympics. "It was amazing for me," said Diagana. "It has been a long time since I have raced under 48 seconds and I am really pleased to do it now for the European title.
"You have to keep working and try to stay confident. I knew I would be able to do it again one day but I just didn't know when. "I thought maybe 47.8 was possible but not 47.5. It is a beautiful moment for me." Jiri Muzik of the Czech Republic edged a tight battle behind Diagana to take silver in a season's best of 48.43secs. Poland's defending champion Pavel Januszewski was forced to settle for bronze in a time of 48.46secs. But there was agony for Britain's recently-crowned Commonwealth champion Chris Rawlinson, who pulled up half-way down the back straight. Rawlinson, with strapping on his injured knee, did not look at all comfortable and called a halt after struggling over the first three hurdles. "It was an injury I couldn't shake off," he said. "I thought it would be okay." | |
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