O'Sullivan v Jacobs: Two sides of the one story

Jacobs

What did Regina Jacobs say to Sonia O'Sullivan after jostling her in the tunnel leading from the track in the aftermath of the final? According to American commentators, it amounted to just nine words: "You cost me the gold medal, you silly bitch."

Jacobs, the oldest runner in the field at 33, said: "It's not the Swiss girl who should be disqualified, it's Sonia. She said she was falling, but I think she was desperate at that point.

"She said to me afterwards that she was following the pace, but I believe she was already out of the medals at that stage. In my opinion, it was all very intentional, but at least I'm on the victory rostrum - she's not.

Jacobs, who finished second to O'Sullivan at Cork in June, said: "What she did was a wild act. She grabbed my top, almost turning me around and bringing me to the ground. And that definitely cost me the race.

"As I said, she's having a bad season and she took it out on me. Perhaps they should now allow kicking and punching in athletics. That way, everybody will have excuses."

Anita Weyermann said: "I don't think that I was to blame or that I did anything unfair. There was no way round the people in front of me, so I had to try and go through them. I am happy to have the bronze medal but it could have better if there had been no trouble."