Sally Pearson of Australia (C) clears a hurdle next to Nikkita Holder of Canada (R) and Phylicia George of Canada to win the women's 100 metres hurdles final at the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Daegu, Sept 3, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

Cover curse

Memorable, too, was the "cover curse" which lurked around the athletes' village until it was broken by Sally Pearson.

The Australian danced a jig on the cover of the world championships' programme after winning the 100 metres hurdles gold. Pearson had been the cover star on Saturday and therefore supposedly subject to the Daegu curse, which meant the featured athlete has failed to win their event in seven out of the eight days of the championships.

Sally Pearson of Australia holds the daily programme as she celebrates winning the women's 100 metres hurdles final at the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Daegu, Sept 3, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

Despite claiming such names as Bolt, Robles and pole vault queen Yelena Isinbayeva, it disappeared into the ether as the event wound to a close.

Bolt's face filled the front page of Sunday's programme. With a world record performance, he once again had the final say.