Cuba's Ivan Pedroso produced a leap of faith to win Olympic long jump gold at long last.

The seven times world champion found a winning leap with his last jump to snatch gold back from Australian Jai Tuarima in a titanic duel.

Pedroso and 'Jumpin' Jai' swapped the lead back and forth in a see-saw battle that sent the home crowd into a frenzy.

Partizan

The pair went at it hammer and tongs in the fourth round with Pedroso posting a mark of 8.41m and both Taurima and the partizan Aussie crowd were celebrating as Taurima also pulled out what looked to be a leading jump.

But the ecstasy soon turned to agony and frustration as it was measured at 8.40m.

In the fifth round Taurima - who came into the competition with a personal best of 8.35m - sent the crowd wild and looked like prolonging Pedroso's Olympic torture with a new Australian record leap of 8.49m.

Pedroso, though, showed what champions are made of.

After collecting himself on the runway he exploded off the take-off board to snatch back the lead with his last jump, his 8.55m throwing the gauntlet down to Taurima.

Pedroso faced an anxious wait as the Aussie whipped up the crowd before making his final jump.

The outspoken Australian had already caused controversy with comments that America's black long jumpers would struggle in Sydney's cool damp climate.

But as Taurima landed, both he and the crowd knew that his last jump was not enough, and the measurement of 8.28m confirmed Pedroso as Olympic champion at last.

Fitting

It was a fitting reward for a man who won world outdoor championships in 1995, 1997 and 1999, and the indoor title four times, but whose Olympic hopes always looked jinxed.

He finished fourth in Barcelona in 1992, and four years later hampered by a hamstring injury, trailed in 12th in Atlanta.

Pedroso's victory confirmed him as the heir to Carl Lewis, who had won the previous four Olympic long jump titles.

Almost forgotten in the drama of the duel between Pedroso and Taurima was a bronze medal for Ukraine's Roman Schurenko, whose 8.31m placed him ahead of compatriot Olexiy Lukashevych with 8.26m.