Periklis Iakovakis…
Periklis Iakovakis (center) rejoices as he crosses the finish line in first place to win gold in the men’s 400-meter hurdles at the European Athletics Championships in Gothenburg last night. It was Greece’s first gold medal in this competition following two silver medals the previous day. Iakovakis, who went to Gothenburg as holder of the fastest time in Europe this season – 47.82 seconds – ran yesterday’s final in 48.46 seconds. Poland’s Marek Plawgo won the silver with a time of 48.71 seconds, and the UK’s Rhys Williams (right) took bronze in 49.12 seconds. A second Greek finalist, Minas Alozidis (left), ended in seventh place. Troubled by injury over the past couple of seasons, Iakovakis, 27, had missed the Athens Olympics in 2004. Meanwhile, Tassos Gousis made the final of the men’s 200 meters but finished last.
