LONDON, England — Former champion and current Olympic record-holder Melaine Walker last night gave up her hold on the Women's 400m hurdles title after running listlessly for sixth place in the semi-final at the XXX Olympiad at Olympic Stadium here yesterday.

Walker, who has performed below her usual high standards this year, clocked 55.74 seconds and afterwards said: "I know I am better than running 55 seconds."

It was a puzzling display by Walker and an even more confusing post-race interview which swung from the ridiculous to the sublime as she described herself as "crazy", then said she could break the world record in her next race.

On a day special to Jamaicans when the 50th Anniversary of Independence from Great Britain coincided as if by divine fate to the medal ceremony for the Men's 100m event and saw the national anthem being played and the flag raised at the biggest sporting event on the globe for the second straight day, a woman known for her doggedness and fighting spirit made a mockery of Jamaican pride and the Olympic ideal with a unusual display.

(See full report in your Daily Olympic pull-out inside)