Olympic champion Steve Hooker of Australia shrugged off a groin injury and won the gold medal in the pole vault yesterday at the World Championships, using a "ridiculous plan" that somehow worked.

Hooker injured his groin 12 days ago and wasn't sure he would be able to jump right up to the event.

He took only two jumps in a bold gamble but cleared 5.90 metres to snatch gold ahead of two Frenchmen. Romain Mesnil took silver at 5.85 and Renaud Lavillenie clinched the bronze at 5.80.

Mental battle

"It's a mental battle with yourself," Hooker said. "You have to convince yourself that you are ready to pick up a massive competition pole that's going to take you six metres into the air, that you are ready for an aggressive jump and that you are ready to take the risk."

Hooker said he and his coach, Alex Panov, came up with "this radical, ridiculous plan that somehow come off".

The 27-year-old Australian needed painkillers before and during the competition after feeling sore while warming up.

"Once it started kicking in, I felt there was more chance of jumping," Hooker said. "We shut that nerve down."

Hooker took his first attempt at 5.85 and brought down the bar although he appeared to have the height. He then decided to move on to 5.90. He cleared that in his first attempt.

"I knew what great shape I had been in before the injury. I knew I had it within me if I had the right pole and the right run-up," Hooker said. "I knew if I could just get down the runway it would be enough. I am very happy there was enough left in me. I made some improvements in the run-up."