Daryll Neita said she was “distraught” after finishing within one hundredth of a second of a first major title, as the Briton claimed 200m silver at the European Athletics Championships in Rome.
Neita, 27, embraced Mujinga Kambundji following a dramatic photo finish, with the Swiss champion clocking 22.49 seconds to edge the gold.
That GB medal came after 22-year-old British team-mate Megan Keith won 10,000m bronze, her first senior medal, in 31 minutes 04.77.
Neita’s silver secured Great Britain’s 11 medal overall, on the fifth and penultimate night of action in the Italian capital.
“I’m lost for words right now, I’m really not happy with that. I know I was capable of that gold,” Neita told BBC Sport.
“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.”
On Wednesday, Olympic and world silver medallist Keely Hodgkinson will look to defend her 800m title after cruising through to the final during Tuesday’s morning session.