Britain's Steve Backley finished an agonising fourth in his final major javelin competition.

It was a sad exit for Backley, one of the true greats of British athletics over the years, as he finished fourth, 71 centimetres behind the bronze medal position.

Backley told the BBC: "I honestly believed I was going to win - up to the point that I lost it and came fourth. But I did my best.

"I was really into that.

"The medals were going to go at distances I was capable of.

"But hats off to the young guys.

"Out with the old and in with new. I beat Jan Zelezny so that's a plus for tonight.

"Olympics are always special, you wait every four years. Watching Kelly and then the relay - tonight was a special night."