Olympic title goes to young Norwegian ahead of Leo Neugebauer after Damian Warner has a disaster in the pole vault

A dramatic decathlon full of plot twists and surprises culminated in victory for Markus Rooth of Norway ahead of Leo Neugebauer of Germany and Lindon Victor of Grenada.

Only seventh overnight and still lying in sixth with three events to go, the 22-year-old Rooth cleared 5.30m in the pole vault when many of his rivals had a disaster before 66.87m in the javelin and then held his nerve with 4:39.56 in the 1500m to hold off Neugebauer.

Rooths score of 8796 was a Norwegian record as he added Olympic gold to the European under-23 title he won last year. He may also have won the European senior crown in Rome earlier this summer if it wasnt for an injury mid-competition.

Neugebauer, the NCAA champion, was prominent throughout and led with two events to go but he lost points with his 56.64m javelin and is not renowned for his 1500m speed, nor his second day performances in general, as he clocked 4:44.67 to hold on to silver with 8748.

In third, Victor scored 8711 while fourth-placed Sven Roosen scored a Dutch record of 8607 with Janek Oiglane of Estonia fifth with 8572 and European champion Johannes Erm, also of Estonia, sixth with 8569.

The competition was turned on its head during the seventh event of the two days, the pole vault, when reigning Olympic champion Damian Warner of Canada no-heighted, with Sander Skotheim, the Norwegian who has won silver at the European Championships and World Indoors this year, doing likewise.

Prior to the pole vault, Neugebauer had led with 6500 points from Warner (6428) and Skotheim (6326). But after Warner failed at his opening height of 4.60m and Skotheim similarly, they plummeted to 11^th and 12^th respectively and out of the medals hunt.

It was nothing short of a disaster for Warner, 34, who was aiming to join Ashton Eaton, Daley Thompson and Bob Mathias as the only decathletes in history to win two Olympic titles.

Warner did not start the javelin but Skotheim battled on to finish 18th overall.

With world record-holder Kevin Mayer unable to start due to injury, Makenson Gletty, the European bronze medallist, carried French hopes and enjoyed brilliant support as he finished 12^th.

Niklas Kaul, the 2019 world and 2022 European champion, won the final event in style in 4:15.00 but was down in eighth overall.

Rooths marks were: 100m 10.71; long jump 7.80m; shot put 15.25m; high jump 1.99m; 400m 47.69; 110m hurdles 14.25; discus 49.80; pole vault 5.30m; javelin 66.87m; 1500m 4:39.56.

I just won gold, I did not expect this, said Rooth. I woke up this morning feeling great after an amazing first day. I just kept adding on to that.

Im so lucky that I had my friend (Skotheim) to run with me in the 1500m. We tried to get a steady pace. I was exhausted. Its mentally hard. I just ran as hard as I could. It was great.

The runner-up Neugebauers marks included: 100m 10.67; long jump 7.98m; shot 16.55m, high jump 2.05m, 400m 47.70, 110m hurdles 14.51; discus 53.33m; pole vault 4.70m; javelin 56.64m; 1500m 4:44.67.

Neugebauer, who broke Jurgen Hingsens longstanding German record last year, said: This moment is just insane. I never expected anything like this. Just being able to compete here in this atmosphere is amazing.

I love the stadium, and the intensity of the fans, cheering for everyone in every single event. Theres never been anything like this.