LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) – Dafne Schippers successfully defended her 200 metres world title on Friday in a thrilling final.

The 25-year-old Dutchwoman, who took bronze in the 100m, timed a season’s best 22.05 seconds and joins greats Allyson Felix and Merlene Ottey in winning the world title more than once.

Ivory Coast’s Marie Josee Ta Lou had to settle for a second sprint silver in a matter of days, timing a national record of 22.08sec, with Bahamas Shaunae Miller-Uibo finishing third in 22.15sec.

Schippers, who took silver in the event in last year’s Olympics, stormed off the bend well up on Ta Lou with Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith showing well in third in the outside lane.

However, Ta Lou — diminutive beside the statuesque Schippers — clawed back the metres between her and the Dutchwoman whilst Bailey-Uibo also made up ground in the final 50 metres.

Schippers, though, just hit the line a tad ahead of Ta Lou with Bailey-Uibo gaining some compensation for missing out on a medal in the 400m — a dramatic collapse seeing her go from first to fourth in the final 20m — by edging past Asher-Smith.