John Capel took gold in the men's 200m at the World Athletics Championships ahead of American team-mate Darvis Patton.
Japan's Shingo Suetsugu was third, just edging out Britain's Darren Campbell by one one-hundredth of a second.
Capel shrugged off the cold and damp conditions to win in 20.30 seconds - the slowest ever gold-medal winning time in the world championships - with Patton just behind in 20.31.
Campbell, who took bronze in the 100m and was the only athlete in the 200m final who had doubled up events, ran a superb bend and seemed to be leading coming into the straight.
But as he tired, ex-American football player Capel finished strongly to win gold.
"US sprinting is back on top where it belongs," said Capel.
"This is what we wanted - we knew we could do it. Me and Darvis were doing it for the USA."
Suetsugu's bronze was Japan's first-ever medal in the sprints at a major championships, and the 23-year-old was elated with his performance.
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US sprinting is back on top where it belongs
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"It is a great day and my journey and hard work towards Athens starts here and now," he said.
Asian record holder Suetsugo became the first Japanese sprinter to claim a medal on a global stage.
"I almost died I could hardly believe what I had done," he said.
"Someone
in front of me said I was third and I looked at the screen, and I
saw my name but I had to look at it several times before believing
it."
"Now I am going to show everyone that I am no one-medal wonder
and continue to improve."
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MMIX
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Day seven highlights (modem)
