Britain's Kelly Holmes will miss out on a six-figure cash jackpot following her tearful exit from the World Championships in Athens. As she began the process of recovery in Switzerland yesterday, Holmes was counting the cost of her injury jinx striking again when poised for gold medal glory.

The 27-year-old dropped out of her first round 1500m heat on the final bend on Saturday morning after aggravating an Achilles tendon problem.

Having topped the 1500m rankings in an unbeaten season until the championships, Holmes was hot favourite to win the gold - along with the £40,000 that went with it. And the Kent-based runner could easily have doubled her money with victory in the 800m with only Cuba's Ana Quirot faster than her this summer.