Spanish race walker left red-faced after a premature celebration within touching distance of the finish line costs her a European bronze medal in Rome

Spanish race walker Laura Garcia-Caro was left red-faced in Rome when she punched the air thinking she was about to win a European bronze medal – only to be overtaken just as she celebrated.

Garcia-Caro was well clear in third place when she entered the Stadio Olimpico for the final 400 metres of the women’s 20km race walk, the first medal event of these European Championships.

The 29-year-old, who was even handed a Spanish flag upon her arrival into the arena, was all smiles as she approached the finish, punching the air in delight and sticking out her tongue.

Yet unbeknown to Garcia-Caro, fast-finishing Lyudmyla Olyanovska had closed the gap on the home straight.

And at the very moment Garcia-Caro celebrated with two metres to go, Olyanovska raced past her to nick the bronze.

Laura Garcia-Caro entered the last 400m of the women's 20km race walk thinking she had secured a bronze medal

However, he celebrations proved premature and she was overtaken by Lyudmyla Olyanovska

'Today is a happy day for me winning this bronze medal.' Olyanovska said after the race.

'The most important thing is that I need to say big thank you to my mother, and my father and the whole Ukraine. It is a very emotional moment for me. 

'Of course, I was tired in the last kilometre and last metres, but I wanted to win this medal for my country so much.'

Garcia-Caro could only look on in horror when it had dawned on her she had just missed out on her first major medal.

Speaking after the event the Spaniard said: '‘I was really tired on the last lap. I did my best.'  

‘The distraught look on Laura Garcia-Caro face, she cannot believe it,’ said Tim Hutchings on BBC commentary.

‘Two metres from the line Garcia-Caro had her hands up in the air expecting to be on the podium.

Spaniard appeared dejected after narrowly missing out on the first major medal of her career

‘She only realised with one stride to the line that Lyudmila Olyanovska was coming and she overhauled her!’

To the delight of the home crowd, the race was won by Italian Antonella Palmisano in 1hr 28.08min ahead of her countrywoman Valentina Trapletti, who claimed silver in 1:28.37.

Olyanovska, who served a four-year doping ban between 2015 and 2019, and Garcia-Caro were given the same times of 1:28.48.

But it was the athlete from Ukraine who added to her bronze medal from the 2015 World Championships.