Spanish athlete Laura Garcia-Caro has spoken out on the moment she lost bronze medal at the European Championships in Rome in a dramatic finish to the women's 20km race walk.
Italy had already secured the gold and silver double with Antonella Palmisano and Valentina Trapletti.
Garcia-Caro held a commanding lead in the bronze-medal position on the final lap and she had the Spanish flag draped over her shoulders as she headed for the line.
The Spanish race walker was beaming from ear to ear as she felt confident of a podium place and began to celebrate as she approached the final 10 metres.
But her joy turned to horror as she saw a fast-finishing Lyudmyla Olyanovska race past her at the line to steal bronze.
It would have been Garcia-Caro's first major medal of her career having finished sixth at the 2022 World Championships in the 35km event.
The 29-year-old was still devastated when speaking to the Spanish press in the aftermath.
"On the last lap I was quite exhausted and I tried to sprint with what I had left because I wanted to get as much advantage as possible to the last few metres," she said.
"Yes, it is true that with 300 and 200 metres to go I was looking back because I knew I was relatively close.
"But at 100 I looked again and I saw that I was 40 or 50 metres ahead and I already thought that she couldn't catch me.
"And well, I didn't see her coming and I thought I already had it.
"I was already focused on getting there and although I know that you see me celebrating, in reality I was giving everything.
"I don't know if I trusted myself but in the last 400 I was giving everything and looking back.
"I am not at all happy with this ending and I hope that on another occasion it will be different.
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"I have competed well, I have given everything and I have had a spectacular season beyond this accident.
"I have had a pretty bad year and a half and I have managed to turn it around by fighting with all my strength.
"Now I hope to learn from this mistake and continue working to come back stronger."
