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Beijing worlds runners-up Bondarenko and Zhang make medals back to the owners

Xinhua, September 4, 2015 Adjust font size:

Four days after the conclusion of the 2015 IAAF World Championships in Beijing, high jumpers Zhang Guowei of China and Ukraine's Bohdan Bondarenko finally got the medals that truly belong to themselves on Thursday.

The men's high jump final in Beijing's "Bird's Nest" last Sunday witnessed a rare jump-off after Zhang, Bondarenko and Canada's Derek Drouin all failed to clear 2.36 meters and still tied after count-back.

After two rounds of jump-off the 25-year-old Drouin, a bronze medal winner at the 2013 world championships, took the gold at 2.34, while Zhang and Bondarenko each earned a silver.

However, the two runners-up were given the wrong medal at the award ceremony as each medal at the Beijing worlds was marked with the name of the medalist.

"I knew that we had the same result with Guowei. But I don't think we have the same name," said Bondarenko on his facebook.

Zhang also posted a photo on his Wechat account to show the medal with the Ukrainian's name on it.

The duo met again and exchanged the medals at the IAAF Diamond League finals in Zurich where Bondarenko took a silver at 2.30 while Zhang finished with a bronze.

After Thursday's competition, Zhang again posted a photo on Wechat with Bondarenko and himself each holding the right medal.

"The apron was too small here I only take a bronze. I am the second in the Diamond League Race, another second place for me this year. Next year, we will wait and see!" said the 24-year-old Zhang. Endi