PHILLIPS IDOWU last night claimed Britain’s second gold medal of the World Championships with a brilliant performance in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.

Idowu produced a personal best of 17.73 metres in the triple jump to beat great rival Nelson Evora of Portugal into second place by 18 centimetres.

When asked how he felt to become the first male British world champion since Jonathan Edwards also won the triple jump in 2001 in Edmonton, Idowu said: “King of the world.

“I’ve worked hard and knew I had a big jump in me and I’m just grateful it came out at the right time. I didn’t think 17.73 was going to be enough and I feel like I had more in reserve.

“Nelson went 17.54 to start but I just felt, ’I can do that’.

“I came down just a little bit short but after he messed up in the second round I put in a solid second round and thought, ‘Just run, you’re ready to explode’, and it came together.

“I just broke down in tears, it was emotional. I was just happy, giving my thanks to God for keeping me on top.

“I have to thank my coach, Aston Moore, he’s been there over the last 12 months, through the ups and downs and he’s always told me I’m a great athlete and there’s a lot more to come. Even with a gold medal now I still believe there’s more in there.

“I still have the dream of being Olympic champion.”

The 30-year-old Londoner, with his hair dyed bright red for the occasion, must have feared a repeat of last year’s Olympic final after he trailed Evora by just three centimetres following the opening round.

Evora pipped Idowu to gold in Beijing by five centimetres and the 25-year-old laid down a daunting marker here with a leap of 17.54m with the very first jump of the competition.

Idowu instantly responded with 17.51m and followed that up with 17.44m in the second round after Evora’s second effort was a narrow foul.

But it was in the third round that Idowu came up with the best jump of his life, soaring out five centimetres further than his previous personal best – despite taking off from well behind the board.

Evora improved to 17.55m in the final round but it was not enough and Idowu could begin the celebrations.

There were no such celebrations for Christine Ohuruogu however.

She was unable to defend her 400m title as Sanya Richards finally got it right in a major final.

Ohuruogu, whose preparations were hampered by a hamstring injury, recorded a season’s best of 50.21 seconds in finishing fifth, but was never in contention for a medal.

Richards made a more measured start than the one which cost her dear in the Olympic final in Beijing, the American then powering clear down the home straight to win her first individual major title in 49.00secs, the fastest time in the world this year.

Jamaica’s Shericka Williams took silver in 49.32secs with Russia’s Antonina Krivoshapka claiming bronze in 49.71secs.

Ohuruogu, the only woman in the final not to have run under 50 seconds this season, said: “I’m not going to blame the hamstring, if it was giving me any problems I wouldn’t have run.

“It was a lack of race fitness, but full credit to my coaches and my medical staff, they did really well to get me prepared and ready for this day.”