Britain's European 100m champions
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Britain's Dwain Chambers emphatically proved his doubters wrong as he scorched to the European 100m title in record-breaking style in Munich's Olympic Stadium.

The 24-year-old triumphed in a personal best of 9.96 seconds to claim the first major title of his career just 11 days after leaving the City of Manchester Stadium in tears after his Commonwealth Games final nightmare.

Chambers scored Britain's second gold of the championships as he added to fellow team captain Paul Radcliffe's victory in the 10,000m on Tuesday.

The Londoner sliced 0.06secs off the four-year-old record set by team-mate Darren Campbell, whose title defence ended with third place.

Chambers had been under immense pressure to deliver a senior title after missing out in Manchester when he finished last after suffering a recurrence of cramps.

The Londoner had faced accusations of being unable to live-up to the billing of favourite but he rammed those words down his critics' throats with a storming victory.

"I have proved now that I have got all the ability in the world," said Chambers after taking 0.01secs off his legal best.

"This is a great answer to all my critics. I even started doubting myself because of all the hype that was creeping in.

"I thought I would win the Commonwealths but not the Europeans. But the victory was never in doubt, though it was hard keeping my composure with all the false starts.

"It was very difficult out there. It's been a hard week or so for me after what happened at the Commonwealth Games.

"I had to keep my wits about me today and worry just about myself. But after my 10.07 earlier I knew there was more to come."

Chambers' cramping problem - tests have put the cause at not drinking the right fluids between races - was tested with three false starts.

Two of them were caused by Greek dangerman Georgios Theodoridis who was disqualified with Campbell producing the other as he attempted to gain an advantage in his bid to retain the title he won in Budapest four years ago.

But victory was never in doubt as Chambers charged down the wet track to claim Britain's fifth successive title in the event stretching back to the first of Linford Christie's three wins in 1986.

Chambers has seen his record in major finals hit a downward spiral since he won bronze at the worlds in Seville in 1999.

He finished fourth at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and fifth at last year's worlds in Canada before failing altogether in Manchester leaving questions whether he would finally triumph on the major stage.

Campbell was delighted with bronze in 10.15secs as he finished behind Portugal's Nigerian-born Francis Obikwelu who clocked 10.06.

The 28-year-old whose career looked in danger during an 18-month injury nightmare has now won three medals in the space of a couple of weeks having taken 200m bronze at 4x100m relay gold at the Commonwealths in his home city.

"I cannot tell you how excited I am," said Campbell, now based in Cardiff. "Who would have thought I would have been here, let alone getting a medal. And to come through 10 races as well.

"I am now looking forward to next year and the Athens Olympics in 2004. I have a dream that is to be the fastest sprinter in the world."

Campbell had been angry at being false-started in the semi-final earlier but had no complaints in the final, even smiling as he walked back to the blocks.

"I tried to beat the gun," he said. "I wanted to win - that's why. But it didn't come off.

"It was a brilliant run from Dwain and he silenced his critics. There was more pressure on him here than at the Commonwealth Games.

"He has been in good form all year and been running fast times. He has come here and fought his demons and delivered on the day."

Chambers revealed later that he was going to dedicate the gold medal to Ross Baillie, the Scottish 110m hurdler who died in 1999 from an extreme allergic reaction after eating a chicken sandwich which contained nuts.

"This one is for Ross," said Chambers, who finished second to Campbell in Budapest four years ago. "He was a great friend of Darren and I and a great friend of the team.

"What happened to him was very hard to take for everyone in the team. I just wanted to go out there and get the gold for him."