GoldYusuf Saad KAMEL, BRN
I am really happy because nobody expected such a race today. Nobody expected Yusuf to win the world title. Yes, I was confident that I can win because I had good times at 800 meters and I felt OK. Kenyans promised they were gonna do a fast race but they did not. But even if they did, I was ready for it and I was not affraid. In the last 400 meters I already knew I am going to beat Lagat. My father won two world golds, now I want to get 3 to beat him. I have solved out things with Bahrain. Everything is all right now.
Silver - Deresse MEKONNEN, ETH
I am delighted to have got silver. It's the first time Ethiopia took silver at the World Championships, and I'm very happy. Choge, who was leading, and the tall Kenyan were the ones who were expected to win, and I was watching out for them. With 400m to go, I felt very comfortable. What I was concerned about was the final 50m.
Bronze - Bernard LAGAT, USA
It is disappointing to surrender the World title. But I proved that I still can run with the young guys. I was able to come out here and got a third place. (On tactics) Everything I was trying to avoid in this race, it happened. Yusuf Saad Kamel is a worthy successor, he is the son of Billy Konchellah, a great Kenyan runner. So he is not a surprise for me. What actually surprised me was that Kiprop and Choge will not be on the podium, I feel bad for them. Even if I am the oldest runner in the field with 34 years, I still have the hunger to beat the field. So I am looking for Korea and the London Olympics. I do not look at age, but at progression. My son Miika and my daughter Gianna were running with me because I have their pictures on my shoes. So the three of us should get a medal.
Asbel KIPROP, KEN
He was very disappointed and left without talking to journalists, even from Kenya.
