France matched the British total, but finished second having won three fewer golds.

Meanwhile, the hosts had to be content with the single medal earned by Kariem Hussein in the 400m hurdles after their hopes of a second in the concluding track race of the 4x100m ended when lead-off leg Mujinga Kambundji let slip the baton as she rose from the blocks.

The noise dropped.

Flags were stilled.

Momentarily, it was as if the plug had been pulled on the whole event.

While France may not have matched the British gold total, it would be hard to argue that they did not have the most satisfying win of the day as Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad, disqualified from 3,000m steeplechase gold for his bare-chested antics in the final straight on Thursday (August 14), produced another defiant display in the home straight as he returned for 1500m gold - this time keeping his shirt on.

Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad crosses the line in the Letzigrund - and this time he keeps his shirt on, and his title ©AFP/Getty Images

The enfant terrible of athletics - who arrived at these Championships with something of a reputation following his fisticuffs on the track with team mate Mehdi Baala at the 2011 Monaco Diamond League and two unfortunate altercations with official mascots at past European Championships - travelled down the same stretch of newly-laid track using the same rising hand movements he had in his previous final, exhorting appreciation for a run which had taken him 20m clear of the straining pack.

As he slowed to check his margin of victory, then turned again with his tongue out, inviting the crowd to applaud, his reward was a mixture of cheering and boos.

"People who don't understand my celebrations don't understand anything about sport and probably just come here to eat chips," he said after eventually crossing the line in 3min 45.60sec.

"I ran with rage.

"My only possible reaction after the disqualification was to go back on the track and get this title - for my family, for those who are close to me, for my coach.

"I guess that today I wrote athletics history.

"There are not many athletes who are capable of doing what I just did.

"I came from joy to sadness after the disqualification and my reaction was the reaction of a champion.

"Winning today was the best thing I could do after the 3,000m steeple.

"I had a lot of motivation, I ran with rage, I am very proud."

Mekhissi-Benabbad received the third European gold of his career from Sebastian Coe - who ran with a similar rage in winning the 1984 Olympic 1500m, although on that occasion the ire was directed at elements of the British press which had written off his chances.

A firm squeeze on the arm from Coe indicated that enfant terrible was back in the good books.

Dafne Schippers' hopes of adding a third gold to those she has already earned in the 100 and 200m ended as she was unable to take the baton from the Dutch lead-off runner in the women's 4x100m.

Antje Moldner-Schmidt earned an emotional win in the 3,000m steeplechase, four years after undergoing treatment for lymph gland cancer ©AFP/Getty Images

Antje Moldner-Schmidt had predicted tears when she stood with the 3,000m steeplechase gold medal around her neck - her finest achievement in a career punctuated in 2010 by treatment for lymph gland cancer.

And as Das Deutschlandlied sounded out, those tears duly arrived.

The 30-year-old German, who missed almost two seasons before returning to take European bronze in Helsinki two years ago, had returned to the top of the podium five years after winning the European Team Championships, and it felt, in her own phrase, "awesome".

Earlier in the day, Italy's Daniele Meucci completed a full set of European medals by winning the men's marathon - where he clocked a personal best of 2 hours 11min 08sec - having won 10,000m silver and bronze in previous years.

Mo Farah won the 5,000m final at the to add to his 10,000m title ©Getty Images

Farah, who has now matched the 5000/10,000m he achieved at these Championships in 2010, has produced the goods in a season disrupted by illness and injury, and his decision not to risk coming back too soon and running the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow now looks entirely sensible.

"There's been some down times but two golds here is great and now I hope to get ready to face the big guys next year at the IAAF World Championships," he said after pulling clear of most of the field at the bell and then breaking the lingering challenge of Azerbaijan's Hayle Ibrahimov over the final 80 metres.

"What I've achieved over the years means that the rest of the field let me do my thing.

"The race went well, I went to the front so it was good.

"My distance double's great for my country and thanks to everyone's support over the years.

"There's been a lot of talk about me not being able to deliver but I've done my job."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
August 2014: Perkovic, Lavillenie and Saladuha - a hat-trick of European gold hat-tricks
August 2014: Hussein delivers rare Swiss gold, Diniz dedicates world record to Mekhissi-Benabbad
August 2014: Mekhissi-Benabbad puts his shirt, and foot, in his mouth as he is disqualified from European gold
August 2014: Great for Britain as Farah, Dasaolu and Porter take European golds
August 2014: Pavey becomes oldest female European champion at 40