Javier Sotomayor won the high jump with his best jump of the season of 2.37 metres to win Cuba's second gold of the championships. Sotomayor (29), winning his second world title following the title in 1993, beat Olympic silver medallist Artur Partyka of Poland, who had to be content with silver again. Partyka climbed over 2.35 metres and Australian Tim Forsyth, a bronze medallist in the 1992 Olympics, came third also with a leap of 2.35 metres.

"I was disappointed because I had a chance and I didn't take it. But we saw a tough performance out there today from a master," the 23-year-old Forsyth said.

Sotomayor, who is also the world record holder with 2.45 metres set in Salamanca in 1993, said he was really confident coming into the championships and wanted to put the past behind him.

"I really wanted to win after all the injuries I have had over the past two years which cost me my world title in Gothenburg and destroyed my chances in the Olympics last year," he said.

"Despite a worry over my left ankle earlier this season I prepared really well and I was very confident of winning," he added.

The 1992 Olympic champion said that he would not think of retiring until he woke up one day lacking motivation and he still had an ambition of more records.

"I came back here in my mind as the guy who could jump 2.47 metres and that is what will drive me on because I know I can do it," Sotomayor said.