Bukowiecka injured before 4x400 relay final at Europeans — Polish athletes knew medal was gone

Natalia Bukowiecka suffered an injury during the warm-up for the 4x400m relay final at the European Championships and had to withdraw. She was replaced by Izabela Smolińska. The remaining Polish runners admitted that when they learned of Bukowiecka's withdrawal, they immediately knew their medal chances had slipped away.