Kutre Dulecha of Ethiopia lived up to her nation's expectations, Carmen Douma-Hussar exceeded those of hers, and Kelly Holmes perhaps failed to meet her own in the final of the women's 1500 metres.
Dulecha, the bronze medallist in 1999, took control of the lead with 300 metres to go and never looked back en route to a 4:06.40 victory. Producing perhaps the biggest surprise of the world championships, Carmen Douma-Hussar of Canada emerged from the crowd down the homestretch to claim the silver, her 4:08.18 a national record. Russian Gulnara Samitova (4:08.26), who was near the front for much of the race, held off the late-race charge of Bulgarian Daniela Yordanova (4:08.52), to take the bronze.
Briton Kelly Holmes, for weeks considered among the favorites, fell to the track as she was making a move with 600 metres to go. She recovered and caught the back of the pack a lap later, but eventually faded to last in 4:12.30.
