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Double world champion Brittney Reese leaped 7.12 meters to win Olympic gold in the women's long jump on Wednesday.
Russia's Yelena Sokolova posted a personal best of 7.07 meters for silver.
Janay Deloach of the United States snatched the bronze medal by just one centimeter with her last jump of 6.89, leaving Latvia's Ineta Radevica out of the medals.
"This is exactly what I had in my mind," said an ecstatic Reese. "I've trained four years for this. This is the moment I have been waiting for, it is a great feeling. This is a great thing for me. I am just pleased to have a medal."
Sokolova said she left with a slight feeling of emptiness.
"Everything is great, but I really have this feeling that something isn't finished. I am not sure what it is, but I am happy though," she said.
Deloach said pressure management was key to her last-ditch achievement.
"I knew I had the jump and the pressure was there, but it's good pressure and you learn how to channel that energy and that feeling into your performance."
Anna Nazarova, who has jumped 7.11 this year, had to settle for fifth with 6.77.
