Damian Warner wins elusive heptathlon gold in Canadian record effort at indoor worldsDamian Warner of London, Ont., is a first-time world athletics indoor champion after he beat Simon Ehammer of Switzerland by 126 points in the seven-event heptathlon on Saturday in Belgrade, Serbia. Warner also raised his national record to 6,489 points.

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Raises national mark to 6,489 points, beating Simon Ehammer in final event for win

Doug Harrison · CBC Sports(Alex Pantling/Getty Images)comments

Damian Warner is a first-time world athletics indoor champion

The London, Ont., native placed third in the men's 1,000 metres, the final event of the heptathlon in Belgrade, Serbia, to overtake Simon Ehammer of Switzerland for his first title in three world indoor appearances.

Warner is the season world leader with 6,489 points, which exceeds his Canadian record by 146 points. The 32-year-old finished second by five points behind 2018 winner Kevin Mayer of France and was seventh in 2014.

"I'm going [to Serbia] to win," Warner, the reigning Olympic decathlon champion, told CBC Sports recently. "It won't be easy, but it never is. You want to get a personal best and winning would be icing on the cake. You also want to see that you're in good shape."

WATCH | Warner places 3rd in 1,000 metres to secure heptathlon title:

Damian Warner clinches heptathlon gold with 3rd place in 1,000m

1 day agoDuration 9:10The Canadian claimed the World Indoor Championships title with 6489 points in Belgrade.9:10

Warner clocked two minutes 39.32 seconds in the 1,000, 2.20 seconds behind his 2:37.12 personal best from 2018 world indoors. Ehammer was ninth of 10 runners in Saturday's 1,000 in a season-best 2:53.54. He posted a 2:51.14 PB in February 2020.

• PreviewOlympic champion Damian Warner seeks elusive gold medal at world indoor athletics championships

Ehammer finished with 6,363 points to set a Swiss record and battled Warner from the start of the seven-event competition on Friday.

Ashley Moloney of Australia, the 2020 Olympic bronze medallist in the decathlon, earned another bronze on Saturday with 6,344 points.

Sets 7.61-second PB in 60-metre hurdles

Before world indoors, Warner suggested he might surprise himself with a strong performance in the 1,000.

"I'm still fast," he said, "and I know I'm in good shape and healthy, so anything's possible."

WATCH | Warner wins 60-metre hurdles to begin his Saturday:

Damian Warner races to 1st in 60m hurdles at World Athletics Indoor Championships

1 day agoDuration 2:47London, Ont. native Damian Warner scored a 7.61 to finish atop the leaderboard in the men's 60-metre hurdles competition. The event, part of a heptathlon, occurred during Day 2 of the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.More track and field coverage

(editor：)