Ziolkowski hammers the gold

Szymon Ziolkowski throws to victory in the hammer

Poland's Szymon Ziolkowski caused an upset in the hammer by taking gold with a throw of 80.02m.

The former world and European junior champion overcame slippery conditions to post the only throw over 80m, but his coach Czeslaw Cybulski later revealed that Ziolkowski had only brought soft-soled shoes which were unsuitable in the wet conditions.

He said: "He had left the other ones at the Olympic village, still, I was confident."

If it had been dry, he would have won more comfortably

  Czeslaw Cybulski

The 24-year-old had won the Polish title last month with a throw over 80m, but few expected him to reproduce that throw in Sydney.

Cybulski said: "We were prepared for this and I knew he could win gold but I didn't want to tell anyone.

"If it had been dry, he would have won more comfortably."

Another outsider, Nicola Vizzoni, took the silver medal with a throw of 79.64m, another result which was unexpected after he finished seventh in the world championships.

Nicola Vizzoni: Celebrates silver

The delighted Italian said: "My goal was top eight, but then, when I saw the weather, I knew I could do something.

"I like it when it's wet. I'm like Michael Schumacher."

With the longest throw in the qualifying, the form books favoured Igor Astapkovich to claim gold after enduring the heartbreak of missing out on gold in the World Championships on five consecutive occasions.

But the Belorussian could not overhaul Ziolkowski's lead and struggled to claim the bronze medal from fellow compatriot Ivan Tikhon, who put the pressure on with a throw of 79.17m.