It came on an evening when Albania earned its first ever medal in this competition in dramatic fashion in the men’s long jump, and Poland’s giant 19-year-old Konrad Bukowiecki won the shot put with a 2017 world-leading effort of 21.97m which left him wandering about the infield like a bemused bear.

Pavel Maslak of the Czech Republic added to the historical significance of the night’s action as he became the first man to win three European Indoor 400m titles.

Having finished 15 metres clear in 4 min 02.39sec – breaking the Championship record of 4:02.54 set in 1985 by Romania’s Doina Melinte - Muir faced another challenge in the form of a female track official preventing her running a lap of honour.

A nifty sidestep took the 23-year-old veterinary student past the lady in the blazer and after collecting the Union flag Muir completed one of the speediest celebrations ever witnessed as the stadium prepared for the women’s 400m final.

“I had to fight for that didn’t I,” Muir, who is also aiming for 3,000m glory, said. 

“The lady was just saying ‘we don’t have time’, but for my first medal I’m not going to lose out on my lap of honour.

“I was actually quite relaxed because I knew what I had to do and I knew that I was stronger than a lot of the girls.

“I knew that if I got out pretty early then I’d be fine. 

"I didn’t expect someone to be on my shoulder with 300m to go, but I just put the welly in and managed to come away with the win.”

The runner on her shoulder, Germany’s 20-year-old Konstanze Klosterhalfen, was rewarded with silver in a personal best of 4:04.45, with Poland’s Sofia Ennaoui taking bronze in 4:06.59.

Until the last round, the men’s long jump title looked as if it would go to defending champion Michel Torneus thanks to the lead he had established with his first effort of 8.08m.

But then 23-year-old Izmir Smaljlaj, standing third with 8.02m, equalled the Swede’s mark and, once Torneus had failed to improve with his final effort, took gold thanks to having registered one less foul in his six jumps.

"I am feeling so good right now and I would like to dedicate this medal to my father," said Smajlaj.

Bukowiecki, world junior record holder in the shot put, won his first senior international gold with a second round effort that was a huge personal best and a European under-23 record.

Tomas Stanek of the Czech Republic produced another big surprise with a personal best of 21.43 to take silver ahead of Germany’s double world champion David Storl, who had to settle for bronze.

"I cannot describe what I am feeling right now,” said Bukowiecki. 

“I am completely in shock.”

Maslak was pushed to a European 2017 best time of 45.77sec in the 400m as he held off the challenge of Poland’s Rafal Omelko, who took silver in a personal best of 46.08, and bronze medallist Liemarvin Bonevacia of the Netherlands, who clocked 46.26.

Greece’s Olympic pole vault champion Ekaterini Stefanidi produced another masterful athletic flourish as she returned to the fray after passing at 4.70m and 4.75m to make a first-time clearance of 4.80m which took her past the only other challenger remaining, Germany’s Lisa Ryzih.

The German, who had already failed once at 4.80, moved up to 4.85, but without immediate success. 

After the Greek athlete had left the bar juddering, but intact, at 4.85, another failure by Ryzih decided the result.

Britain’s Richard Kilty successfully defended his 60m title in a European 2017-leading time of 6.54sec, ignoring the starting problems which had caused the field to be asked to stand up from their blocks twice and then recalled after a false start which saw his team-mate Andrew Robertson disqualified.

The men’s 1,500m title went to Poland’s Marcin Lewandowski, winner of the 800m two years ago, who clocked 3:44.82.

High jumper Airine Palsyte won Lithuania’s first ever gold medal at these Championships, seeing off the challenge of Olympic champion Ruth Beitia before adding a centimetre to the national record she set in January with a clearance of 2.01m at her second attempt.

The 37-year-old Spaniard tried all she knew to earn a second European indoor title but had to settle eventually for a silver – her sixth in this competition since 2005.

There was a surprise in the women’s 400m final as Switzerland’s powerful favourite Lea Sprunger, totally in charge of the race as she led into the final straight, began to tread water and saw four runners flow past her on the outside, with France’s Floria Guei taking gold in a personal best of 51.90 ahead of the Czech Republic’s double world 400m hurdles champion Zuzana Hejnova, second in 52.42, and bronze medallist Justyna Swiety of Poland, who clocked 52.52.

Germany’s World indoor triple jump silver medallist Kristin Gierisch only managed two scoring efforts in the final, but her second round effort of 14.37m, the best European distance of the year, was enough to bring her a first big title.