Quite soon, perhaps even by tomorrow, the European Athletics Championships will be but a distant memory, with Amsterdam this week – for many – merely serving as the appetiser ahead of the meat and potatoes of the Olympic Games. Form has been evaluated, process tested, and wrinkles ironed out in the quest for perfection five weeks hence.

For Steph Twell, however, this was an occasion to stand out and stand tall. At the 2012 edition of these championships in Helsinki, the Scot felt herself ready to prove her fitness and form once more after fighting back from a horrific ankle injury. Headed towards the starting line, reality bit. Steps backward, one after another. Surgeries, rehabilitation and rejuvenation beckoned for the one-time teenage prodigy.

Last night, the 26-year-old removed any doubts that she would not fully rebound. In a 5000 metres final won at a canter by Kenyan-born Turk Yasemin Can, Twell relentlessly headed the chasing pack seeking silver, and was denied only on the home straight by Sweden’s Meraf Bahta.

“It feels unreal,” she said of her bronze medal. “It was so nerve-wracking going around. I kept thinking: ‘Will it be silver, will it be bronze? Will I catch Can?’ I kept pushing and that’s the experience coming out.

“You can doubt yourself. I’ve been through those doubts. I can cope with that. It now shows my inner strength is coming out. I’m super happy.”

Fellow Scot Laura Whittle, in hot pursuit, was fifth, and must surely be Olympic-bound. Eilish McColgan was disappointed to be just behind in sixth. “It was a good experience but I knew a medal was up for grabs today,” she said.

With one day left, Great Britain and Northern Ireland now stand on nine medals, with Julian Reid adding a surprise bronze in the triple jump, thanks to an opening effort of 16.76m. However Jake Wightman was thwarted in a brave charge at victory in the 1500 metres final, fading from first to seventh amid a mass sprint for home as Norway’s Henrik Ingebrigtsen struck gold.

“I thought I’d got it right,” the 21-year-old Edinburgh prospect admitted. “But with 50m to go, I knew I’d gone too early.”

Meanwhile, Eilidh Doyle wants to lead the GB&NI relay squad to 4x400 gold tonight and strengthen the grip on her place in Rio. The 29-year-old, whose reign as 400m hurdles champion will end this evening after opting out of a title defence, produced the quickest opening leg of her career in yesterday’s heats before Margaret Adeoye, Kelly Massey and Seren Bundy-Davies claimed top spot in the continental rankings with a time of 3:26.42.

Individual bronze medallist Anyika Onuora plus UK champion Emily Diamond are expected to come in this evening, but Doyle, already tipped for a 400m hurdles podium at the Games, would cherish two bites at the Olympic cherry. “Definitely, we all need to argue for our spots on the team,” she said. “The last few years, I’ve probably felt quite secure but not this year. And that’s a good thing. We were all watching the 400m final and we were all willing them to go fast. Because the faster they run, the better chance we have of getting a relay medal in Rio.”

Onuora against 2008 gold medallist Christine Ohuruogu for one 400m berth may prove to be the most contentious decision when the British selectors meet on Tuesday to finalise their Olympic squad.

The men’s hammer will also require debate with Chris Bennett, the trials victor, seemingly in pole position as the sole Briton into today’s final. If the Scot were to earn the qualifying mark of 77 metres, it would amplify his pleas for an Olympic debut.

“I’m in a strong position after winning the trials,” the 26-year-old said. “I had to do that, and then I had to make the final here. But it’s about performing when it counts on the day.”

Elsewhere, both British men’s and women’s 4x100 teams advanced as victors in their respective heats but Andy Pozzi was forced out of the 110m hurdles final with cramp.