TOKYO :Julia Paternain reacted in complete disbelief when she crossed the line third in the women's marathon on Sunday to win Uruguay's first world championship medal.

The gruelling nature of marathon running, especially in the sort of suffocating heat that shrouded Tokyo on Sunday, means confusion for athletes at the finish is by no means unusual.

Paternain also finished well behind the first two athletes, Peres Jepchirchir and Tigst Assefa, and so was completely alone on the track as she crossed the line to the ovation of the National Stadium crowd.

The 25-year-old first checked for her time and then counted off the athletes in front of her, finally raising three fingers as she realised she had won a bronze medal at her first world championships.

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