Athletics:There was no Hollywood ending for double amputee Oscar Pistorius in the 400 metres at the world championships, even if he crossed the line last in his heat to cheers louder than those for most gold medallists.
The South African's battle to overcome a series of legal and performance obstacles and become the first amputee to run at a major championships on his carbon-fibre prosthetic legs has made him a sentimental favourite around the world.
The 40,000 packed into the Daegu Stadium gave the "Blade Runner" a rousing welcome when he came out on to the track for the third and last semi-final of the evening, just as they had when he qualified through the heats yesterday.
The 24-year-old needed to finish in the top four to have a chance of a place in the final but when he came around the final bend he was battling for last place with Demetrius Pinder of the Bahamas.
Pinder pulled away to leave Pistorius to cross the line at the back of the field in 46.19 seconds, more than a second outside his personal best of 45.07.
Despite finishing last, Pistorius, who had expected to struggle to reach the final, was certainly not disappointed with his second race at a major international championships.
"I worked extremely hard to get here," he said. "I'm happy with my performance tonight ... not as quick as I wanted to be but it's great to have this platform to run on and it's been an unbelievable experience. I'll be back for the relay."
Pistorius will be allowed to compete in the 4x400m relay for his country as long as he runs the opening leg to avoid endangering other athletes with the prosthetics.
American LaShawn Merritt, returning from a ban for a doping violation, was again the quickest of the qualifiers in 44.76 as he was in the heats when he ran the best time of the year.
Jamaican Jermaine Gonzalez was second quickest in 44.99 ahead of Belgian brothers Kevin and Jonathan Borlee, who will line up against each other in tomorrow's final.
Cuban hurdler Dayron Robles, meanwhile, was stripped of gold and glory in a twist every bit as dramatic as Usain Bolt's disqualification from the blue riband 100 metres on Sunday night.
The muscular world record-holder was disqualified after a physical tussle in the 110m hurdles final with China's Liu Xiang. Robles bumped Liu in an epic race between the three fastest hurdlers of all time - America's David Oliver finished fifth - and crossed the line first ahead of Jason Richardson.
Liu protested, however, and Richardson was awarded gold by the referee. A Cuban counter-appeal was rejected by a jury, and Richardson held on to gold with Liu winning silver and Britain's Andy Turner lifted to bronze.
Robles left the stadium after his appeal failed without making any comment.
"Robles hit me twice, at the ninth hurdle he pulled at me, but it wasn't intentional," former Olympic champion Liu explained. "If not for the incident I would be gold medallist.
"I am good friends with Robles. What I like is a happy camp - I don't know what to say."
Richardson said: "The reaction is bittersweet. I am disappointed to have won on a technicality. I wish that under different circumstances he could keep the medal but rules are rules.”