Published>Sat, Jul 31 10 05:17 AM
A Borlee brother won the 400 metres title at the European championships on Friday although not the one everyone had expected.
Belgian Kevin Borlee, who at the start of the week tipped his twin Jonathan to be a medal contender, stole the show -- and the gold -- from his sibling with victory in 45.08.
Britons Michael Bingham and Martyn Rooney finished second and third.
Jonathan, who had lowered his national record to 44.71 in the semis, finished in seventh but was quick to congratulate Kevin on the track with a brotherly hug.
"I'm disappointed for myself. My legs didn't respond today. I was a little bit tired but Kevin did the job so it's really great," Jonathon told reporters.
"I told him he did a really good job. He ran a very good race. Condition-wise it wasn't great."
Kevin went off quickly and appeared to be paying the price when he faded on the final bend but the 22-year-old found a second wind and surged through the field, crossing the line with a grimace from the effort.
"I am disappointed for Jonathan, he deserved to be on the podium, said Kevin, five minutes younger than his brother.
"Before the race I talked to Jonathan. He said the one who's going to win the race is going to be focused on his own race, so it's a little bit because of him that I won today," he told a news conference.
Athletics is a family affair for the Borlees.
The twins, who plan to run in the 4x400 relay, are trained by their father Jacques, a former international 400 metres runner, and older sister Olivia finished sixth in her 200 semi at the Olympic stadium on Friday.
Source: Web Search
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