London, United Kingdom | AFP | Pierre-Ambroise Bosse loves gambling and on Tuesday he rolled the dice and won the biggest prize of his life, the 800 metres world title, to give France their first ever gold in the event.
The 25-year-old, who had finished a valiant if frustrating fourth in last year’s Olympic final, seized the initiative with 150 metres to go with a stunning burst passing Kipyegon Bett and race favourite Nijel Amos and held on to take the tape first from fast-finishing Pole Adam Kszczot.
“I am a gambler, I love going to the casino,” said Bosse.
“And today I just gambled, I put everything on the red, even my last Euro. So hopefully, this is also for luck in love.”
Bosse, who is renowned for his offbeat character and addressed his cat ‘Rabs’ after finishing outside the medals in Rio by telling him to go the fridge and drink a beer for him, said he thought he had cast a spell over his rivals as no one threatened him down the final 100m.
“It felt like a nightmare as I was getting chased,” he said.
“It was a never ending nightmare. I could not understand why nobody was going past me.
“Even when I crossed the line I could not believe it.
“The others killed themselves and they were already dead in the last 100m.
“I was like a witch casting a spell on them.”