Unknown Eritrean 5,000 metres runner Mariam Nebiat won the biggest cheer of the night from the Greek crowd at the Olympic Stadium last night, but for the wrong reasons.

Nebiat, who was completely outclassed and lapped by the winners in her semi-final heat before finishing 19th, had decided to race without a bra and in a running vest several sizes too big.

It was several laps before she realised what the crowd were screaming about, but when she saw herself shown on the giant television screen at each end of the stadium, the reason was obvious.

Near to tears, she clutched her vest with her left hand to cover herself, but Nebiat, Eritrea's first athlete to compete at the World Championships, was determined to finish the race.

Even though the winners had already left the track, she completed another lap to win a huge roar of appreciation from the spectators.