In one of the most spectacular weekends in local sporting history, Brian Wellman and Troy Douglas proved once again that they are world class athletes.

Competing at the World Indoor Championships in Barcelona, Spain, Wellman won the gold medal in the triple jump, becoming Bermuda's first ever gold-medalist at the indoor games. His jump -- 17.72 metres (58 feet, 13 inches) -- was also the third best ever and the best in the world this year.

The demonstrative Wellman celebrated the breaking of Mike Conley's meet record of 17.65 metres (57-11) by punching the air, ripping off his shirt and waving a Bermuda flag.

"That was a sign of 15 years of blood, sweat and tears,'' Wellman said last night in a telephone interview from Barcelona. "This is something that I've worked for so long that when I put it together at a World Championships where it really counts, I turned out the lights and let loose.'' Douglas captured silver on Saturday by clocking 20.94 in the 200 metres, finishing second to European outdoor champion Geir Moen of Norway. Moen won with a time of 20.58 seconds.

"When I saw the flag tears welled up in my eyes,'' Douglas said of his reaction during the medal ceremony.

The Bermudian athletes were with Norbert Simons, vice president of the Bermuda Track and Field Association, and both revealed that their medal-winning performances hadn't really sunk in yet.

Bermuda finished in sixth place overall in the hunt for medals ahead of countries like Canada, France and Australia.

"I hope people now wake up and pay attention,'' said Douglas. "We are world champions!'' Wellman's effort was only two inches shy of the world record of 17.77 metres (58 feet, 33 inches) held by Leonid Voloshin of Russia.

"I was actually hoping to break the world record today,'' the three-time Bermuda Athlete of the Year said. "I came up a little short. I'll make a prediction: I'll jump 18 metres outdoor this year.'' Wellman's winning effort came on his only legal jump of the day. He fouled on four others and passed once.

Wellman's best previous results were third-place finishes at the 1993 World Indoors and the 1994 Commonwealth Games.

On Friday night during qualifying Wellman jumped 17.51 metres (57-51 ) clearly a sign of good things to come.

Earlier this year Wellman set a Bermuda indoor mark when jumped 17.47 metres (57-33 ).

"It's a pretty nice medal, with a bright green ribbon around it,'' Wellman told The Royal Gazette last night.

Wellman said both medals were hanging on the wall in the room the two athletes are sharing in Barcelona.

Yoelvis Quesada won the silver medal with a jump of 17.62 metres (57-93 ), a Cuban record and sixth best jump of all-time. France's Serge Helan took third at 17.06 metres (55-113 ).

Both athletes will now compete at the Pan-American games in Argentina.

WORLD CHAMPION! -- Bermuda's Brian Wellman celebrates after winning the gold medal yesterday at the World Indoor Championships in Barcelona, Spain.

TROY DOUGLAS -- Captured silver on Saturday by clocking 20.94 in the 200 metres.