The strains of "God Save the Queen" rang round Daegu Stadium yesterday. Sadly, it was not played in recognition of a second British gold at the World Championships; it was for the delayed presentation of the reward Dai Greene earned in the 400 metres hurdles on Thursday.

Carl Lewis, arguably the world's greatest-ever Olympian, is involved in another running battle – to become a politician. And it is one that is becoming increasingly bitter, his bid for power turning the New Jersey Senate race – normally a humdrum affair – into a high political drama, with charges of racism, illegality, and dirty politicking.

Welcome to the world of Dai Greene, the new golden boy of British athletics.

There are some things that go together like salt and pepper. There's Batman and Robin, Tom and Jerry, fish and chips. Then there's South African athletes and major controversy.

There was never much danger of lightning striking twice as Usain Bolt got back on his mark in the World Championship arena in Daegu yesterday.

For the Great Britain team, it was a Midas touch that had been six days in coming. In Daegu Stadium yesterday, Dai Greene succeeded where Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis had fallen so agonisingly short of expectation in the heat of World Championship battle.

Presenter Ortis Deley has been sidelined by Channel 4 bosses after apparently struggling to read scripts and name his co-hosts while fronting the athletics coverage.

Just as another golden hope turned into a silver lining for the Great Britain team in Daegu yesterday, the glint of a possible Midas touch came into view. It remains to be seen whether Dai Greene will succeed where Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis have failed and win gold at the World Championships in South Korea. In emerging from his 400m hurdles semi-final as a comfortable winner yesterday, though, the Swansea Harrier showed the assurance of a contender who is going into tomorrow's final in 24-carat condition.

The second of Britain's great hopes for World Championship gold had to settle for silver today as Jessica Ennis failed to retain her heptathlon title in Daegu.

Surely the time has come to insist that those taking part in able-bodied athletics should have nothing attached to their lower limbs except running shoes