Earlier in the day, France's Johann Diniz had produced another rare sight at these Championships - a world record - as he clocked three hours 32min 33sec in becoming the first man to win three European 50 kiloemtres race walk golds, comfortably breaking the six-year-old world record of 3:34:14 set by Russia's Denis Nizhegorodov.

The 36-year-old Frenchman thus became member of an elite club of those who have set world records at the Championships down the years.

His was the 35th world record at the European Championships, and only the ninth set by a man.

Dinis offered his victory to team-mate and near neighbour in the French city of Reims, Mehiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad, whose third consecutive European victory in the 3,000m steeplechase was annulled last night when he was disqualified for taking off his vest in the home straight.

"I offer this victory today to Mehiedine," Diniz said.

"I spoke to him last night in the team hotel.

"He should not have done what he did, but I think his disqualification was very harsh.

"But Mehiedine is a fighter, and I am sure he will have a medal from the 1500m final on Sunday (August 17)."

France's Johann Diniz celebrates a 50km race walk victory in a world record time which he "offered" to French team-mate Mehiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad following his disqualification from the previous night's 3,000m steeplechase ©Getty Images

The medal ceremony for the 3,000m steeplechase, from which Mekhissi-Benabbad was disqualified from what would have been a third consecutive title for removing his shirt - and putting it in his mouth - on the home straight, provided a little awkwardness.

The Frenchman's team-mate Yoann Kowal, who moved up from silver to take gold following the successful protest lodged by Spain, moved deliberately down from the top step of the podium at one point to stand alongside the Polish silver medallist Krystian Zalewski, a move which drew a mixed reaction from the crowd.

But there were also some boos as Spain's Angel Mullera, thrown out of his country's team for London 2012 after failing a drugs test, who moved up to bronze as a result of the protest, took to the podium.

"I know that I was showing some difficult emotions in the medal ceremony and I will try to forget this unfortunate gesture in the future," said Kowal.  

"I was expressing my emotions of the moment and I was sorry.

"I would prefer to have won this race with happiness because I don't want people to remember my gold medal because of what happened.

"For me, Mekhissi-Benabbad is the European champion.

"A yellow card was a sufficient penalty for what he did, not disqualification. 

"I hope that Mahiedine will win a medal in the 1500 so that we can share a drink together."

Mullera, who had his positive drugs test for corticosteroid overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2013, commented: "It is understandable that there were some unhappy French fans. 

"It is not my fault what happened. 

"I did nothing to deserve this reaction.

"It was a decision of the Spanish Federation to protest. 

"I was not consulted. 

"In my opinion, the judge should have taken a firm position earlier. 

"When he did not, my federation obviously felt they had to take a position."

Kariem Hussein accepts congratulations on his lap of honour after winning the 400m hurdles, Switzerland's first European Championships track gold since 1969 ©Getty Images

For the home nation, the best part of day four of these Championships arrived in the evening.

As Hussein, the 6ft 3in figure in the red, white and black of the Swiss colours, held off the challenge of Estonia's event favourite Rasmus Magi to cross the line in a personal best of 48.96sec his face was contorted with joy which was mirrored by the packed, flag-waving stands around him.

Asked to comment on his Championship flourish by the trackside interviewer, this 25-year-old from Munsterlingen probably voiced the emotions of the majority of those spectating as he responded with a mighty roar of triumph.

Given the benefit of a little extra time after his win - which was the first track gold for Switzerland in these Championships since Phillipe Clerc's in the 1969 Athens 200m - Hussein was able to articulate more fully to the media throng.

And he revealed that the level of support offered by the home crowd had moved him to tears even before he began running.

"This is an awesome crowd!" he exclaimed.

"! I ran a fantastic time, under 49 seconds, a new PB, and got the gold - I am more than satisfied.

"I still do not get it... Normally I am not that emotional but at the start when the audience supported me so much I had tears in my eyes."

Dafne Schippers delivers part two of a sprint double to match that of her Dutch fountrywoman Fanny Blankers-Koen at the 1950 European Championships ©Getty Images

Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands produced a similarly impressive flourish in the longer sprint to replicate the 100/200m double won at the 1950 European Championships by her illustrious fellow countrywoman Fanny Blankers-Koen.

The heptathlete-on-holiday, who had already secured the 100m gold, produced a time of 22.03, the fastest by a European woman since 1995, in a race where silver went to Britain's Jodie Williams in a personal best of 22.46.

Britain's Adam Gemili took the 200m in 19.98, holding off France's 2010 champion Christophe Lemaitre.

A rainbow arched over the Letzigrund Stadium for much of an evening of dramatically differing weather - but there was to be no pot of gold, or indeed silver or bronze, at the end of it for  Britain's Christine Ohuruogu who, it seems, is destined never to add a European 400m title to the ones she has already accrued at the Olympics, World Championships and Commonwealth Games.

Britain's reigning world champion produced her customary late surge in the final, but too late to close down Italy's winner Libania Grenot, who recorded 51.10.

The Italian's three closest challengers dipped together and it went to a photofinish before Olha Zemlyak of Ukraine emerged with silver in 51.36, bronze went to Spain's Indira Terrero in 51.38, with Ohuruogu being registered with the same time.

In the women's hammer, Poland's defending champion Anita Wlodarczyk won with 78.76 metres, the third best of all time.

With gold assured, her last effort sailed just beyond the landing area and thudded into the purple and green medal ceremony podium atop which she would soon be standing.

Had she adjusted her line just a fraction, it looked like it could have been the world record...

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