HELSINKI , August 7 - Euphoric. Thanks, at least in part, to Rex the Talking Pill Bottle.

That was Adam Nelson, shot put bridesmaid no more, after clinching his first senior world championship crown last night in Helsinki. Nelson, whose last world crown came as a junior in 1994, may have a second career lined up after all as a stand-up comic after some of the one-liners he let loose in his interviews last night. But his sponsorship by medical supply manufacturer Medivox Rx during the month of June was no laughing matter. The Ebay auction, which marketed Nelson as a pitchman for the highest bidder during the four televised track meets he was slated to compete in during that month, put $12,000 in his pocket and pushed him past an early-season injury to peak for these outdoor world championships. And when it counted, Nelson finally delivered, winning his first senior world championship gold medal after two Olympic silvers and two world champs silvers in the last five years.

Talking to the press after his emotional victory, Nelson was at turns giddy, philosophical, deadpan funny and undeniably gracious. He won the gold medal with his first throw of the evening - a 21.73m heave that received a roar of approval from the Finnish fans. The Finns, famous for their support of the throwing events, had two of their own to cheer in this final, Ville Tisanoja and Tepa Reinikainen. Did Nelson get adopted by the crowd as one of their own? Sure seemed like it - even to Nelson himself.

"They love the shot put here in Finland and they've treated me so well," Nelson said. "I've got to say this is one of my favorite places to compete and they've always been very supportive of me and my career."

But why so much support in Finland for the throws, Adam? he was asked.

"Oh, you know, they have big people!" the 260-pound Nelson deadpanned. "And they like big things. And the shot put is kind of a big thing."

Indeed it is. On a night of some excellent American performances, including all three men's 1500 meter competitors advancing to the semifinals, Nelson's win may stand out, when all is said and done, as the finest American performance of these championships.

One by one, Nelson's competitors fell by the wayside while he stayed focused. There were fellow American stars John Godina, who didn't make it out of the morning qualifying round, and Christian Cantwell, who did but fouled four of six attempts in the final, eventually finishing fifth (20.87m). Yuri Bilonog of Ukraine, who stole Olympic gold from Nelson last year in Greece when he tied Nelson's one legal throw and bested him on second attempts, didn't come within half a meter of Nelson's best, finishing fourth ( 20.89m). 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Joachim Olsen of Denmark was never in it, finishing seventh (20.73m). And 2003 world champion Andrei Mikhnevich of Belarus was sixth (20.74m).

Nelson, the last to throw, took an almost giddy final attempt, fouling badly. He admitted afterwards that emotions got the better of him - "I'm an emotional guy" he said, understating the fact, afterwards - but it didn't matter.

Medivox Rx, which markets a talking pill bottle for the visually impaired, displayed more market savvy than previous Nelson sponsor Nike, which declined to renew his sponsorship contract even after the Olympic silver in 2004. "[Medivox] bought me for a month, and I hope they got their money's worth," said Nelson. The company was one of many that bid for the endorsement services of the gentle giant, and Nelson proved to be quite the spokesperson, even though technically he's no longer on their nickel. Will the gold lead to more sponsorship opportunities? "It certainly doesn't hurt," Nelson said. "We'll see."

One year ago in Olympia, Greece, Nelson nearly won the Olympic title on his first throw but then fouled all five of his subsequent attempts. He eventually finished second when Yuri Bilonog tied Nelson's distance but posted a legal mark for his second throw.

One could talk forever about how due Nelson has been for this moment, how much his career has been a series of if-only and oh-so-close moments, and even moments of seemingly stunning unfairness. Two years ago at the Paris worlds, Nelson won silver behind Mikhnevich, who was competing in only his second event since finishing a two-year drug suspension.

Maybe that's why this was such a popular result - that even in the face of events such as that one, journalists were only too happy to connect the dots and see a drug cheat where Nelson, at least in his remarks to the press, only saw a champion. He was gracious as always in the mixed zone at the Paris worlds in 2003, and even when pressed, wouldn't comment on the drug past of the man who bested him that day.

Last night, though, nobody could best him.