Team GB's Greg Rutherford was left in tears tonight after being forced to settle for a bronze medal in the final of the men's long jump at the Rio Olympics.
The 29-year-old was the defending champion going into the contest in Brazil, but surrendered his title in a thrilling final that boiled down to a four-horse race in the final jump.
"I never thought in my career I'd be disappointed with a bronze medal but I'm gutted," Rutherford told BBC Sport afterwards. "I feel like I've been shaped to jump very far. It's very frustrating to come out of something when you don't think you've done yourself justice. I didn't see anybody out there that was unbeatable tonight.
"I'm pleased that on my last [jump] and being down in fourth I managed to come back and get myself a medal, but I come to these championships to win. I'm not here to finish third. It's very, very frustrating.
"I gave it absolutely everything I could in that last round. I was desperate to try to take it and I felt I could. It just wasn't to be tonight. I guess two Olympic medals in a career isn't too bad but I really wanted it tonight, I wanted to retain that title."
The USA's Jeff Henderson took the gold medal, while South Africa's Luvo Manyonga claimed the silver.
Neil Wilkes
