When it came to the climax of these 18th European Athletics Championships, it was fitting that a fighting finish should decide one of the last titles. For much of this week medals had been split on the line, and that was the case too for Gabriela Szabo.

Throughout the 1,500 metres she chased down Sureyya Ayhan, the unknown face from Turkey who had yet to appear as a force on the track this summer. Ayhan had led every step of the way, but most of the 46,500 in Munich's Olympic stadium expected Szabo to sweep past as they approached the line.

Szabo got alongside her but not past her. On the line victory went to Ayhan in three minutes, 58.79 seconds - a Turkish national record, and the fastest by any European this season. Szabo took silver in 3:58.81. So, having been beaten by Sonia O'Sullivan in 1998 and 1994, the European outdoor title still eludes the Romanian.

Germany's Nils Schumann lost his 800 metres title to a more familiar rival, Wilson Kipketer. The world record holder from Denmark was beaten by Schumann for the gold in 1998 at a time when he was deemed unbeatable, and then suffered years of illness and injury that appeared to finish his career.

Yesterday it was like old times as the smooth-running Kipketer took control of the race on the second lap and came home untroubled in 1:47.25. Swiss world champion Andre Bucher defied his poor season to take silver (1:47.43), with Schumann looking a little disappointed in third (1:47.60).

With Schumann one of the main gold medal hopefuls, Germany was still living off the single gold of Ingo Schultz from the 400 metres. That was then doubled in the women's 4 x 400 metres relay when Grit Breuer somehow rediscovered her vintage form to out-sprint Russia's Olesya Zykina - the individual champion - down the home stretch, though the noise factor obviously helped.

Germany's time of 3:25.10 had them a couple of strides ahead of the Russians (3:25.50), though the two-gold medal haul was well below expectations. Four years ago they collected eight gold medals, though the huge crowds that turned out each day in Munich didn't seem too bothered.

Finally, there was another gold for Finland yesterday. At one point the pioneers of distance running records, but lost in the wilderness for decades now, they saw 24-year-old Janne Holmen restore some pride with victory in the men's marathon in two hours, 12 minutes, 14 seconds - a personal best by over four minutes.

But he has come from good pedigree. Holman's mother, Nina, was European champion over 3,000 metres back in 1974, while his father, Rune, was a decent runner from the same time. And his sister is married to former Olympic 10,000 metre champion Khalid Skah.

Heading the medal table this time was Russia (seven golds), though Spain's total of six gold medals underlines their strength in world athletics - especially distance events. Their men won gold in the 5,000, 10,000, 3,000 metres steeplechase and the 20km walk, and the women took gold over 5,000 metres and the 100 metres hurdles.