Zuzana Hejnova became the first woman to retain the world 400m hurdles title with a composed and controlled run where she was never challenged in Beijing today. 
Zuzana Hejnova of the Czech Republic celebrates after winning gold in the Women's 400 metres hurdles final during day five of the 15th IAAF World Athletics Championships Beijing 2015 at Beijing National Stadium on August 26, 2015 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images for IAAF)
The Czech athlete showed that not even a year out of the sport with injury could take away a chink of her brilliant ability as she won in 53.50, the fastest time in the world this year.
She was easily ahead of Americans Shamier Little (53.94), in second, and Cassandra Tate (54.02) in third, with Denmark’s Sara Slott Petersen in fourth (54.20).
"It is hard being the favourite and I was nervous before the final, but I am happy to have won my second world title - it is perfect," said Hejnova.
After being forced to miss last summer’s European Athletics Championships in Zurich, Hejnova returned for the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Prague in March where, in front of her home crowd, she competed in the 800m.
Even though she was knocked out in the heats, it was all about making that comeback to a big event and whatever experience she would have taken from that would have held her in good stead in China.
From the start she always looked the winner, and on the home turn was in charge as she attacked the final two barriers to seal this second successive world crown.
