“It’s with a very heavy heart I’ve decided to withdraw from the European Championships in Munich,” he announced today on Facebook.

“This was due to be my final major championships. Throughout my career I have treated competing for my country an absolute honour, and one not to be taken for granted.”

“Despite a lot of hard work, from both myself and my team, to get me race fit, I still feel a very long way from my best and putting my body through a 20km will just be a challenge in itself.” 

“I wish everyone involved in the team the best of luck and to enjoy a championships that will no doubt be brilliant!” 

“I’ll hopefully see lots of you on August 29th in Tonbridge for my farewell race, where it all began.” 

Bosworth, who has struggled to rebound from illness this year and had what, for him, was a disappointing result in last week’s Commonwealth 10,000m in Birmingham, had already announced that he will walk his last race on his home track at Tonbridge Harriers at the end of the month. But he would have wanted to wear the Union Jack one more time in a major international, and to do well in it. Clearly, however, the signs were not good. It was an unfortunate way to end a distinguished international career that included one of the most enthralling contests of the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games ... the 20km shootout between Bosworth and Australia’s Dane Bird-Smith, undecided until the Birdman’s last 200m surge.