Robbie Grabarz was left to rue an early mistake in the high jump final as he missed out on a second consecutive Olympic medal on countback.
The 28-year old from Sutton Coldfield did enough to match Ukraine’s bronze medallist Bohdan Bondarenko, with both clearing 2.33m at the first attempt.
But one failed attempt at 2.25m came back to haunt the Brit, placing him behind the Ukranian, who didn’t fail a jump until after his 2.33m effort.
Grabarz was aiming to become the first Brit to win multiple high jump medals at an Olympic Games, and his 2.33m clearance was a season’s best.
And the European silver medallist admitted the uncharacteristic error had cost him his place in the history books for now.
“It was my own mistake at 2.25m and that’s cost me a medal,” said Grabarz.
“It’s a pretty upsetting and a frustrating place to be but Olympic fourth is still something to be pretty damn proud of.
“I’m really happy and I’m really proud of it. Being that close to a medal is what’s really frustrating.
“If someone said even six weeks ago that you’re going to come fourth I’d have been really chuffed.
“But in the heat of the moment when it is that close you are absolutely gutted.”
Laura Muir and Laura Weightman were the other two British finalists on the night, finishing seventh and 11th respectively in the 1500m.
Muir put herself in the medal mix with just over a circuit to go, sticking with Ethiopia’s world record holder Genzebe Dibaba as she kicked for home with 500m to go.
The Scot, who broke Kelly Holmes’ 12-year old British record last month, stayed with the breakaway group until the back straight, before fading to cross in 4:12.88, some two seconds off USA’s Jennifer Simpson (4:10.53) in bronze.
“My aim was to go with whoever broke and stick with them and hopefully I could have the strength to overtake them at the end but that just didn’t happen.
“I wasn’t aiming for fifth or third, I was going for gold so I am a bit gutted.”
European 200m champion Dina Asher-Smith and 2014 European 400m hurdles champion Eilidh Doyle both progressed to their respective finals in eighth.
Asher-Smith clocked 22.49 to cross fourth in her semi-final while Doyle was third in her semi in 54.99.
Long jumpers Lorraine Ugen and Jazmin Sawyers will also return for the final on their Olympic debuts.
Ugen finished seventh fastest overall with a 6.65m effort while Jazmin Sawyer’s third and final jump of 6.53 was enough to sneak her into the final in 12th.