England's Mark Lewis-Francis upstaged British team-mate Dwain Chambers to snatch second place in the 100m final behind France's Christophe Lemaitre, edging out another Frenchman, Martial Mbandjock, by one thousandth of a second.

Lemaitre eased to victory in 10.11 seconds, but behind him the athletes from second to fifth were all given the same time of 10.18secs. Mbandjock claimed bronze ahead of defending champion Francis Obikwelu of Portugal, with Chambers relegated to fifth.

But the 27-year-old has struggled with injuries and poor form in recent seasons, missing the entire 2008 campaign with a torn Achilles tendon and losing his lottery funding at the end of last year.

"For all the knocks I have taken this is the biggest comeback ever and the biggest boost," the Birmingham athlete said.

"It is a new beginning, this is the rebuilding of Mark Lewis-Francis. I hope I have answered some of the critics."

Lewis-Francis was only given the third individual 100m berth last week after impressing UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee at the team's training camp in Portugal.

"I got to the final on a lucky star (as a fastest loser in the semi-finals) and I got to these championships on a lucky star," he added. "2010 is my year, I am the happiest man in the world. I said I'd take fourth place before the final and I ended up with second."

Lewis-Francis was quick to praise coach Linford Christie, who looked on proudly in the same stadium where he won Olympic gold in 1992.

"Linford was my inspiration from when I was a kid. To be coached by him is an honour, he motivated me all the way through my races."

As for Chambers, he knows time is running out on his controversial career.

The 32-year-old, who won the European title in 2002 but had to hand back his gold medal when he tested positive for steroids a year later, said: "Mark deserves to have got a medal - all I can do is just smile about it.

"I'm going to go and sit down and rest and think about what happens in the morning. I've just got to keep ploughing on until my opportunity prevails."

Britain's best chance of further medals today comes in the shape of Phillips Idowu in the triple jump, although the world champion faces stiff competition from world indoor champion and record holder Teddy Tamgho.

Martyn Bernard and Tom Parsons will also contest the high jump final, while Laura Turner attempts to qualify for the 100m final.

Article courtesy of telegraph.co.uk.