When Charles Kamathi returns home on Thursday morning at 6.30 am even his mother won't recognise him at first.

The final medals table is looking suspiciously like it used to do in the bad old days of the Cold War. But these are warmer times, and all credit to the Russians for getting their act back together after the considerable fall-out following the Soviet disintegration.

Adil Kaouch limped home almost eighteen seconds behind the winner in the 1500 meters Sunday afternoon, but he was still a satisfied man.  His work had been done very well.  Almost as well as in Seville two years ago.

Tegla Loroupes unique view of the Women's Marathon of the 8th IAAF World Championships in Athletics - Edmonton 2001

The new World Champion in the discus throw Moscow athlete, Natalya Sadova made a wonderful reality out of her greatest dream by beating  Belorussian athlete Ellina Zvereva

It’s been a decade since Maria Mutola made her first appearance at these World Championships, and yet again, she has proved why she has dominated the 800m for almost as long.

There was absolutely no possibility that Hestrie Cloete would successfully clear her final attempt in the high jump on Sunday afternoon.  Already with the knowledge that she had won, the South African's eyes were so flooded with tears that it was all she could do to keep the crossbar in focus.

If a visitor to the Tokyo World Championships in 1991 had fallen asleep for ten years and suddenly awakened for the Edmonton competition, he would have had been surprised at the expanded list of stadium events.

Befitting the climax of 10 days of great competition, the final day of the World Championships pits Hicham El-Guerrouj against the resurgent Kenyans over 1500m, a great head to head between Maria Mutola and Stephanie Graf in the 800m, and another chance to see master-craftsman Jan Zelezny at work in the javelin.

Since the World Championships in Athletics was inaugurated in Helsinki in 1983, seven men and seven women marathon runners were crowned as the World Champion  (Abel Anton won twice).  During the same period, five men and five women marathon runners were crowned as the Olympic Champion.  Only two marathon runners - Rosa Mota in Roma and Seoul, and Gezahegne Abera in Sydney and Edmonton - have won both of the coveted titles.

The United States' 4x100 metres relay teams tried it both ways. The U.S. women, after qualifying in moderate fashion by finishing second behind France in the faster of the two heats - France running 42.49 to the Americans 42.64 -replaced anchor women Torri Edwards with Marion Jones for the final.

Not since the 1932 Olympic Games have the USA gone 1-2 in a major 100m hurdles final, but this afternoon, Anjanette Kirkland ran a world leading 12.42 to beat her compatriot, Gail Devers