Athletics-Arop goes from back to front to take 800m gold

Athletics - World Athletics Championship - Men's 800m Final - National Athletics Centre, Budapest, Hungary - August 26, 2023 Canada's Marco Arop celebrates after winning the gold medal in the men's 800m final REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Marco Arop foxed his rivals with a radical change of tactics, then poured on the pace to win a brilliant 800 metres World Championship gold for Canada on Saturday.

Normally a front runner, he kept his huge frame out of the picture, right at the back, through the first lap and while the rest of the field were wondering, he swept straight to the front at the bell and surged clear.