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Jenny Meadows came third in the 800m final at the European Athletics Championships, another bronze to match her breakthrough podium performance at last year's World Championships in Berlin.

Meadows's preparations for Barcelona could not have been worse as a troublesome Achilles meant she spent more time on the treatment table than the track.

Russia's Mariya Savinova underlined her favourites status to claim gold ahead of Dutch athlete Yvonne Hak, while Meadows just held off the fast finishing Slovakian Lucia Klocova to clock 1.59.39.

British team-mate Jemma Simpson, who had looked impressive in qualifying, was fifth in her first major championship final.

"It's right up there with what I did in Berlin, especially after all the injury problems that I've had this season," said Meadows.

"I've had to fight so hard just to be on the startline and I'm still not near 100 percent right, so I'm very pleased.

"Three championships and three medals is great but athletes are never happy and I reckon I could have given Savinova a much better race if I'd been at 100 percent."

Eighteen years after Fermin Cacho claimed his famous Olympic gold, Spain's Arturo Casado won the 1500m title, clearly inspired by the history of the Montjuic Stadium.

Britain's Andy Baddeley was pre-race favourite after arriving in Barcelona ranked number one in Europe but the slow early pace played into the hands of the Spaniards, with three home athletes in the top four.

Baddeley came home sixth with Colin McCourt ninth and Tom Lancashire tenth.

"I'm absolutely devastated," said Baddeley, who dramatically faded in the closing metres, as Casado won in a pedestrian 3.42.74

"I was sixth four years ago and nothing has changed. The race went to plan and it's galling.

"I was convinced I was going to win but the last 30 metres wasn't something I ever considered."

More Than The Games / Eurosport