Russia's Natalya Antyukh (R) runs to win gold next to second placed Lashinda Demus of the U.S. in the women's 400m hurdles final during the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium August 8, 2012. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
Athletics: Russian Antyukh women\'s 400 hurdles gold
Athletics: Russian Antyukh women's 400 hurdles gold
Posted : Wednesday, 08 August 2012 04:04PM

LONDON (Reuters) - Russian Natalya Antyukh secured the Olympic women's 400 meters hurdles gold medal on Wednesday when she dug deep to hold off American Lashinda Demus.

Antyukh, who won bronze in the 400 meters in Athens in 2004, came into the race as the fastest this year and surpassed that by clocking a personal best of 52.70 seconds.

World champion Demus (52.77) tried valiantly to close in the final strides with Czech Zuzana Hejnova taking bronze in 53.38.

(Reporting by Justin Palmer; Editing by Ed Osmond)

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Check for restrictions at: http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp