Isinbayeva falls short

Pole vault Olympic champion and world record holder Isinbayeva featured on the cover of the event's official programme on day four - and like the cover stars on each of the past three days suffered a shock and ignominious exit.

On day one Australian Olympic and defending world pole vault champion Steve Hooker appeared and swiftly exited without even completing one successful jump.

Day two's cover showcased Usain Bolt -- disqualified from the men's 100m final -- and Monday was the turn of Dayron Robles who was stripped of gold for bumping in the 110m hurdles.

Isinbayeva at least got off the ground, but her failure to clear 4.80 metres was a miserable showing from one of athletics' genuine greats.

Instead Brazil's Fabiana Murer took gold with a distinctly lukewarm 4.85m, way short of Isinbayeva's 5.06m world mark.

German Martina Strutz claimed silver after clearing a personal best height of 4.80m and Isinbayeva's compatriot and 2003 champion Svetlana Feofanova picking up bronze after a leap of 4.75m.

"I am very disappointed I lost again but it is okay... and I am optimistic for next year," said Isinbayeva who held the world title in 2005 and 2007 before losing it two years ago.

"I came here expecting to medal. I am going to jump higher and higher."

German Robert Harding suffered through the agony of an injured knee to win the discus world title and planned to take a beer shower to douse the pain.

Harding took the gold with a throw of 68.97 metres in Daegu, with Estonian Gert Kanter claiming silver and Iran's Eshan Hadadi the bronze.

Harding was surprised to have thrown as long as he did and said many of the discus throwers had been nursing injuries in South Korea.

"I have problems because my knee hurts so much. At the qualification we managed to keep the pain down, but today the injections did not relieve me much," he said, adding that he would get his shot put team mate to help him dull the pain with an unusual remedy.

"I guess I will be limping back to the bus. I will relieve my knee pain tonight with a beer shower from Ralf Bartels."

Britain's Brett Morse finished 12th and last in the final with a best of 62.69m.