Portugal's Nelson Evora won gold in the men's triple jump on Thursday to add the Olympic [Images] title to the world title he won in Japan [Images] last year.

The 24-year-old Evora won with a best leap of 17.67 metres on the fourth of his six attempts, just five centimetres ahead of Britain's Phillips Idowu.

The Briton took the silver with 17.62 after winning this year's world indoor title in Valencia. Leevan Sands of the Bahamas the bronze with 17.59.

Evora joined 1984 marathon winner Carlos Lopes as the only Portuguese men to win Olympic gold titles in athletics. His victory is likely to be celebrated in at least three countries.

Evora was born in the Ivory Coast and represented his parent's native Cape Verde Islands until 2002 when he was granted citizenship by Portugal, where he moved as a young boy.

Idowu, who kept his hair dyed red after learning that the colour was considered lucky in China, went into the Games as the favourite after Sweden's Christian Olsson, who won the gold in Athens four years ago, was ruled out with a thigh injury.

Previously unbeaten this year, Idowu led after the first round when he leapt 17.51 and again after the third when he jumped 17.62 but failed to improve on his best effort on his last two attempts.