OLYMPIC CHAMPION ARIES Merritt turned in a defiant performance to take bronze in the men’s 110m hurdles world championship final — just four days before he gets a kidney transplant.

There was no fairytale finale for the American star who was pipped to the line by Russia’s Sergey Shubenkov (12.98) and Hansle Parchment of Jamaica (13.03).

But in extraordinary circumstances, Merrit’s run represented a remarkable triumph over adversity.

The 30-year-old, who holds the 110m hurdles world record, was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition in 2013 and is due to receive a kidney from his sister on Tuesday.

“I am here in Beijing for mental sanity more than anything,” he said earlier this week.

I’d rather be out enjoying life because, who knows, this could be my last championship if the surgery doesn’t go well.

Shubenkov’s gold medal was Russia’s first of the championships, setting a new national record in the process.

Dafne Schippers just won the women’s 200m with the fourth-fastest time EVER

Why is this US athlete wearing a superhero mask at the World Championships?