Italian long-jumper Andrew Howe on Thursday won a silver medal in a dramatic event at the world athletics championships in Japan.
In his last attempt Howe set a new Italian record of 8.47 metres, ten centimetres behind winner Irving Saladino of Panama who jumped 8.57 just minutes after Howe.
"I was certain I'd won but I'm happy anyway," European champ Howe told reporters.
Howe, 22, is a Los Angeles native who moved to Italy in 1990 when his mother married an Italian.
Olympic champion Dwight Phillips of the US took bronze with 8.30m, failing in his bid for a third successive world title.
Saladino's gold was the first for Panama at any major championships.
