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ByReuters

Published 02/09/2007 at 13:04 GMT

All the reaction from day nine at the World Championships in Osaka.

ATHLETICS 2007 Osaka

Image credit: Eurosport

Kirwa Yego (800m, gold): "I can't believe I'm the one who won it. As I went through the first lap it was very easy for me and I knew I would be definitely be in contention. At 600m I felt so relaxed that I felt I could win so I unleashed my last kick with 100m to go but I was not sure I actually won the gold by the time I crossed the line."
Gary Reed (800m, silver): "This is just the greatest day of my life, this is beautiful. This is huge, this is bigger than big. It is a breakthrough for my career. When I was leading I slowed the race down because I knew I would have a better chance. The advantage of me not being the favourite was then when I striked nobody expected me to do so."
Bernard Lagat (5000m, gold): "I think that was the best race in the 5,000 metres I have ever run. All I had to do was run a smart race and follow the pace. This double means a lot a to me. The story I was following was the one by Hicham El Guerrouj in Athens. I wanted to do the same because he inspired me. He is a wonderful man and friend."
Maryam Yusuf Jamal (1500m, gold): "I am extremely happy. This makes up for Helsinki when I was in good shape but I was pushed (and finished fifth). I'm certain if that hadn't happened, even if I hadn't won, I would have medalled. This will give me a lot of confidence for the Olympics."
Yelena Soboleva (1500m, silver): "I was fighting to the end but she was better today. If I could run this final again, I would not change anything in my tactics."
Tero Pitkamaki (javelin, gold): "The party at home in Finland will be pretty big. That was my dream to win the gold medal. Our team had not won a medal here until today so the javelin was the last chance. I am also happy because in Helsinki two years ago I had a black day."
Andreas Thorkildsen (javelin, silver): "I was looking for gold. "It was all a matter of who was the best on the day and Tero did a good job."
Blanka Vlasic (high jump, gold): "I'm just relieved, I wanted it so bad, now I'm in a state of shock. It was not easy to beat them. Only after clearing 2.03m and 2.05m did I have fun. I was the favourite so I had to deal with a lot of pressure.
Jeremy Wariner (4x400m relay, gold): "The coaches set it up perfectly. The other guys put it right before me and I just got it home strong. We were going for the record but the main goal was the gold. We can do the world record another time."
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