Barr bows out after frustrating semi-final at European Championships

'I can’t really catch any luck this season,' said Barr, who’d been in flying form in May before an Achilles tendon injury cost him five weeks of training.

Thu, 18 Aug, 2022 - 11:20

Cathal Dennehy

Thomas Barr’s hopes of winning another European medal met an abrupt end at the Olympic Stadium in Munich this morning, the 30-year-old eliminated from the 400m hurdles after finishing third in his semi-final in 49.30.

That left him just shy of the two automatic qualifying spots for tomorrow’s final, leaving Barr sitting in the hot seat as one of two fastest losers, nervously watching the ensuing races, knowing it would likely not be enough. “I felt it’d be sub-49 (at the finish) but when I saw 49.30, I knew my campaign was over,” he said.