Da Silva lights up Rio with da gold in pole vault

Unheralded Brazilian Thiago Braz da Silva has sent his home crowd into absolute raptures, claiming gold in an incredible pole vault final.

In what has surely be the highlight for Brazil at their home games, Da Silva beat defending Olympic champ Renaud Lavillenie of France by clearing 6.03 with his final jump.

Image: Getty

Jeered every time he ran into jump, Lavillenie pitched everything on a last-gasp vault at 6.08m, but failed and had to be content with silver with a best of 5.98m.

It's just the fifth Olympic track and field gold medal won by a Brazilian.

Image: Getty

Image: Getty

American Sam Hendricks took bronze with 5.85.

Coming into the Games, Da Silva's main claim to fame was winning the 2012 junior title.

Brazilians were left frustrated as their countrymen won just one gold in the first week of the Games, but they have every reason to smile now.