Tom Walsh's world championship celebrations have been tempered by revelations his title was only confirmed moments before the medal ceremony.
Walsh won title in London yesteday but Americans Joe Kovacs and defending Olympic champion Ryan Crouser both lodged protests over throws they had disallowed.
Both were dismissed but Crouser lodged a second protest which Walsh was only told had been rejected moments before walking out for the medal ceremony.
Crouser even arrived at the stadium ready to collect the gold medal.
Tom Walsh had a nervous wait before learning if he would get to stand atop the podium. Photo: Photosport
"I don't think it's been handled in the right way, it's a bit of a shame and it kind of brought a little bit of a downer to the guys in the medal ceremony room not knowing exactly what the story was.
"We had Stipe (Zunic, the Croatian bronze medallist) there, with his first ever medal at a major champs sitting in third place and he would have lost that if the protest went through," said Walsh.
"So it was a weird feeling in the medal ceremony usually it's quite happy and jovial and today it was a little bit nervous."
"The boys didn't know what to think as one guy would have gone from first to second and the last guy goes from third to fourth and doesn't get a medal at the end of the day.
"Stipe is not a man you want to annoy as he is a former world junior kick boxing world champion, so Crouser is a brave man to try that," said Walsh.
After much protesting Tom Walsh was finally awarded his world championship gold medal. Photo: Photosport
Walsh said he was struggling with the groin injury which almost derailed his title shot.
He suffered an abductor strain in his last training session ahead of the event and it was "making its presence felt" as he walked around the stadium for the medal ceremony.
"The groin's definitely sorer than what I thought it would be, but we're going to get an MRI on it tomorrow and see what the story is as it could have an impact on the rest of my European circuit.
Walsh said the medal ceremony was a special moment.
"I've been on the podium a few times now, once with my national anthem, but this one at the outdoors it's pretty special. I'm not usually a teary guy but I felt like I got a bit of watery eyes there at a little part of it."
"And to see some Kiwis in the crowd that were singing our national anthem and just proud of what I've achieved is pretty cool."
