Olympics: France's Lavillenie wins pole vault gold

LONDON: In-form Frenchman Renaud Lavillenie won Olympic pole vault gold on Friday after reigning champion Steve Hooker bowed out without clearing a single height.

Lavillenie claimed his first global outdoor title with a new Olympic record of 5.97m. German pair Bjorn Otto and Raphael Holzdeppe took silver and bronze after both cleared 5.91m. (AFP)