Dina Asher-Smith vowed to bounce back once again after her European Championship comeback ended in more injury heartbreak in Munich.
The defending champion, 26, pulled up in the women’s 100m final with cramp in her calf as teammate Daryll Neita won bronze.
Asher-Smith missed this month’s Commonwealth Games with a hamstring injury suffered at the World Championships in Oregon but insists her latest issue in Munich was totally unrelated.
She stopped sprinting on 60m after a fast start in Tuesday night’s final and was unable to defend her 2018 title as home favourite Gina Luckenkemper scorched to a thrilling gold medal.
Asher-Smith, who also withdrew from the 100m and 200m events at last summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, said: “I got cramp in my calves.
“I can't be running on two cramping calves – it is crazy.
“I’ve never cramped in a race before. In Oregon, thankfully it was just neural and there was no tear or damage.
“I had to take the week off and miss the Commonwealth Games.
“I’m very, very frustrated – the two are completely unrelated.
“I had a great start I was ready to push and then my calves went – I thought: I’m not tearing my calves.
“I’m just so irritated – it’s not even like it’s an issue and I’ve never, ever cramped in my life or in training.”
Asher-Smith, a four-time European champion, came flying out of the blocks at the Olympic Stadium but withdrew when looking well-placed for a medal.
She did finish in a time of 16.03s behind Neita, who also admitted to struggling with cramp before the race and clocked a time of 11.00 in third.
Luckenkemper, 25, captured a memorable victory to send the bumper Munich crowd into raptures while Swiss star Mujinga Kambundji claimed silver.
Asher-Smith’s European Championships are not over yet as she hopes to compete in the 200m on Thursday ahead of this weekend’s 4x100m relay.
She added: “I’m going to go back and have a chat about my recovery.
“I feel good, I'm in good shape, I'm just frustrated.”
The multi-sport European Championships Munich 2022, featuring Athletics, Beach Volleyball, Canoe Sprint, Cycling, Gymnastics, Table Tennis, Triathlon, Rowing, Sport Climbing, takes place 11th-21st August on the 50th anniversary of the Olympics Games in the German city. Watch daily live coverage across BBC One, Two, Red Button, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website
