VALENCIA, Spain -- Tyler Christopher earned Canada's first medal at the world indoor track in field championships in record fashion Sunday.
The 24-year-old from Chilliwack, B.C., won the men's 400-metre title in a Canadian-record time of 45.67 seconds.
Sweden's Johan Wissman was second in 46.04 while Chris Brown of the Bahamas was third in 46.26. Christopher was sitting third with 40 metres to go in the race before surging to take the victory.
Christopher earned US$40,000 for winning the final.
Christopher started in Lane 5 with arch-rival Brown to his immediate right. Brown went out hard on the first lap and as the runners broke for the inside lane after the second bend Christopher was squeezed back into third as Wissman also made a bid for the lead.
"That was the plan, to go out in front at the start but then when I didn't it wasn't that important to me to waste the energy to get in front," Christopher said. "So I let them have it.
"I conserved a little energy and went for it at the end."
Christopher became the first Canadian to win a world indoor title since Perdita Felicien of Pickering, Ont., captured the women's 60-metre hurdles event in 2004 and became just the seventh Canadian to win a gold medal in world indoor history.
Christopher also bettered his own world-best time this season.
Christopher won his 400-metre semifinal heat Saturday to cement a berth in Sunday's final. Christopher's time of 46.57 seconds was the best in the semifinal round but Christopher suggested he could've done better and felt confident he could win the final.
Christopher captured a bronze medal at the 2005 world outdoor championships but dropped to sixth in last year's event.
Christopher was particularly pleased to beat Brown, who captured the 2007 Pan American Games title when Christopher thought a false start would be called and let up, only to find he was mistaken. The Canadian had to settle for the silver medal on that occasion.
"Chris Brown and I have quite a battle history," he said, "I win then he wins, and he has three on me so far.
"So it was about time to take him down."
Still, Christopher was sitting third heading into the final lap and it didn't appear he'd be able to close the gap on his two rivals. However, he adjusted tactics splendidly to begin his sprint coming off the last bend.
"I knew with 100 metres left the race was mine," said Christopher. "I watched Chris try to pass Johan and I knew I had the energy left to get past them both.
"I am extremely happy. I have a bronze (from '05 world outdoor championships) , a (Pan Am) silver and now I have a gold."
Christopher said there was no doubt in his mind that was capable of winning the race.
"I was confident I was going to win, I had it in my head I was going to win," he said. "I had an unbelievable sleep last night.
"I woke up this morning and actually thought I was home. I had breakfast and then got a little therapy made sure everything was good and then I stayed in my room."
A disappointed Brown was humble in defeat.
"I got stepped on the last lap and I lost my momentum," he said. "It made it harder for me but that's how it goes sometimes.
"Obviously he (Christopher) stayed behind and watched both of us. He made a big surge and earned the victory."
