New York-born and California-raised Felix Sanchez gave the tiny Dominican Republic its first and probably only medal, a gold, of the ninth World Athletics Championships when he won the men's 400 metres hurdles in a very fast 47.25seconds, just 0.07seconds off American Kevin Young's championship record 10 years ago in Stuttgart, Germany.

The defending champion, who celebrates his 26th birthday tomorrow and had similarly given the tiny Caribbean country its only medal of the last World Championships in Edmonton, Canada, won the race quite comfortably, though he was last out of the blocks.

His nearest competitor Joey Woody of the United States clinched the silver in 48.18 seconds, almost a full second behind.

Periklis Iakovakis gave Greece its third medal of the championships, a bronze, as he took third place 0.06 seconds behind Woody.

Sadly, the first man out of the blocks, South Africa's Llewellyn Herbert, finished last as he suffered an injury midway into the race and hobbled across the finish line in 1:12.10.

Photograph: Getty Images