Britain’s Daryll Neita said she was “distraught” after she finished second in the women’s 200 metres – just 0.01 seconds behind the winner — at the European Athletics Championships in Rome.
The Swiss champion Mujinga Kambundji edged her out in a dramatic photo finish, winning the gold in 22.49 seconds.
There was another British medal on the championships’ penultimate night as Megan Keith, 22, won the bronze in only her third 10,000m race.
Great Britain has now won 11 medals overall in the championships.
Neita, 27, who embraced Kambundji after the race, said: “I’m lost for words right now, I’m really not happy with that. I know I was capable of that gold.
“I gave everything I had. I think I ran a season’s best but it was not enough and honestly, I’m disappointed.
“I’m not going to be too negative because I’ve won a medal and it’s a great achievement but I really wanted that gold.”
Keith, priming for her Olympic debut, was overjoyed.
“I’m really happy,” said Keith, who came home in 31:04.77 in the 10,000 metres. “I gave it a shot for a brighter colour but you can’t not be happy with a bronze. I’m just soaking it all in.”
It was some performance, especially as the 22-year-old student from Inverness had been reluctant to move up from 5,000 metres as she found the event dull.
She even took the lead with five laps left, but had no answer when Italy’s Nadia Battocletti kicked for home to win in 30 minutes and 51.32sec.
Battocletti completed a long-distance double by adding to her 5,000 metres title.
The Dutch athlete Diane van Es (30:57.24) came in second in the 10,000 metres.
Sources: BBC, The Guardian