Andy Baddeley was on crutches just 24 hours before he ran in the 1,500m semi-final at the IAAF World Championships in Berlin.
Having finished fourth in his first-round heat, the Teddington-based runner could hardly walk, so it is no surprise he failed to make the final, finishing 11th.
“I was in agony and thought I had broken my ankle,” said Baddeley, who clocked three minutes, 45.23 seconds in his heat.
But the British team doctors later diagnosed a burst blood vessel.
When he lined up in the second semi-final, he knew it was going to be tough and, at the end of the opening lap, he was seventh in the 12-strong field.
He continued to run strongly and was sixth at the bell but slipped back as the leaders surged ahead and finished 11th in 3:38.23.
He needed to finish in the first five to qualify for the final.
“It was asking too much of me, particularly on the last lap,” admitted Baddeley.
“I have had a tough few months and a tough last 48 hours.
“I am gutted. I came here to be in the final and challenge for medals.
“I worked – to put it in polite terms – really bloody hard.
“I have been running outdoors for three weeks now – that’s not an excuse, it is testament to the medical team around me who have worked really hard with me.”
St Mary’s College student James Brewer failed by just eight-hundredths of a second to make the 1,500m final, finishing sixth in his semi and 13th overall in 3:37.27.
He was in a qualifying fifth position with 200m to go, but just lost out in the rush for the line.
“It was a lot tougher than it was on Saturday,” said Brewer, who was third in his heat (3:37.17).
“I am really happy to have been here and proud to represent GB at a senior championship.
“It has been a brilliant season, but you always want that little bit more.
“I seem to have a habit of doing this at World Championships.
“I have missed out on the final at world youth, junior and now senior level.”
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