It is only four years since Charlie Dobson ran his first competitive 400m race and barely 12 months since he was departing university with a first-class degree in aeronautical engineering. Now he is leaving Rome with a European Championship silver medal and, form and injuries permitting, is set for a first Olympic Games in Paris next month where he could yet contend for medals.
De Jong has been out for six weeks and has not recovered in time
Sara Fantini notched up another gold for Italy to ruin Anita Wlodarczyk's bid for a fifth European hammer throw title in Rome on Monday, while world record holder Kevin Mayer struggled on the opening day of the decathlon.France's Mayer may be a two-time world champion and have two Olympic silver medals, but it looks like his wait to win a European outdoor championship might continue after the first day of the decathlon.