Jackson's Olympic dream in tatters

Colin Jackson's dream of finally being crowned Olympic champion was left in tatters in Sydney today.

The 33-year-old world champion had to settle for fifth as Cuban dangerman Anier Garcia took the 110m hurdles title.

Jackson's hopes of winning the only major title missing from his collection were hit when he false started in both semi-final and final.

The Welshman finished in 13.28 seconds as Garcia, the man they all feared, set a Cuban record with victory in 13.00.

America's Terrence Trammell was second in a career-best 13.16 with team-mate Mark Crear taking the bronze in 13.22.

Defending champion Allen Johnson finished just 0.01 seconds outside of the medals in fourth spot.

Jackson, who became the first Briton to regain a world title when he beat Garcia in Seville last year, had high hopes of finally winning the elusive Olympic gold.

The Cardiff-born runner, who won silver 12 years ago, was confident that he could defy his younger rivals one more time and complete the championship set.

But it was not to be for Britain's reigning world record holder who is expected to retire after a farewell tour of the European circuit next season.

Jackson missed out as he did in Barcelona in 1992 when he was seventh after picking up an injury in an earlier round and in Atlanta four years ago when he was fourth.

The false start in his semi meant he produced a slower time than he would have expected and was placed in lane one where he also false started in the final, along with Crear.

Jackson made a good start but he hit a couple of hurdles in the middle of the race which cost him momentum.

He was bidding to become the first Welshman to win Olympic gold since Lynn Davies' epic long jump victory in Tokyo in 1964 and the first Briton to win the high hurdles title in Olympic history.