THE trophy cabinet wherein Colin Jackson's mother stores the spoils of the greatest hurdles career will forever have a gap on the shelf.
Jackson, chasing the only honour to have eluded him, crashed to the most disappointing defeat of his life last night.
Aching inside, but with typical outward elan, the world record holder was stoically philosophical after he could finish only fifth in the 110m hurdles final.
The Welshman false-started, and then clocked 13.28 seconds as the 24-year-old Cuban, Anier Garcia, won in 13.00m (wind, +0.6 metres per second).
Terrence Trammell, an American who could not be found ever previously to have beaten Jackson, but who had the fastest flat 100m time this year of any hurdler, 10.04sec, was second in 13.16, his best ever. Mark Crear, silver medallist four years ago - two weeks after having broken an arm - was third in 13.22, one hundredth ahead of defending champion Allen Johnson.
The jinx which has dogged Jackson in four Olympics struck again. He won silver behind Roger Kingdom in 1988, but no Olympic medal since.
''It is difficult to accept, but you learn to accept it,'' he said. ''This is athletics. I am very disappointed. My longevity was an achievement. To have a career that spanned three decades, and not to have an Olympic gold, and to be the best for so long . . .'' he shook his head.
''I am a world champion, the world record holder, and my trophy cabinet is crammed with medals. I am happy. I don't know. Maybe your view of what makes me happy is different. I don't think many people have achieved what I have achieved.''
The 32-year-old confirmed it was the end of his championship career: ''Yes, it is my last champion-ship, but I never said I'd retire from athletics - just from international competition. I will still be running on the circuit next year. That's the bit I enjoy most.''
The final, he said was ''very messy'', but the damage was actually done in his semi-final, when he eased at the line and finished third, with just .02 covering the first three. That consigned him to lane one, where he was removed from the serious action.
''My feet felt tight in the blocks, with the false start,'' he said. ''I didn't get a clean race after that.''
Chris Rawlinson was another medal hope to crash to oblivion. The Sydney 2000 tattoo on his right shoulder will be something that will haunt him to the grave, barring a skin graft.
Rawlinson went off insanely fast, and paid the penalty, sixth in his 400m hurdles heat, finishing with 49.25. Matt Douglas also failed to advance, with 49.53.
Said Rawlinson: ''I was dia-bolical, and I just can't offer any explanation. I came here with a realistic hope of winning a medal. It's so disappointing.''
Also in Rawlinson's heat was Blair Young, who carpet-bagged unsuccessfully for a Scottish Commonwealth Games place two years ago, after having failed to make the Australian team for Kuala Lumpur.
The folly of the Scotland Games Council rejecting athletics' pleas then have been belatedly underlined. He clocked 49.20, better than any UK athlete here.
Tony Whiteman had raging temper tantrum after he was barged off the track and failed to finish in the opening round of the 1500m.
However, Whiteman did return to the track, but knew that he had no chance of progressing from his heat and walked along the grass to the finish line.
The Carshalton-born runner could not hide his disgust as he threw his British vest to the ground as he left the arena.
Whiteman then kicked a box and chucked his official accred-itation that had just been handed back to him to the floor.
Britain did consider lodging a protest, but it was highly unlikely to succeed because Whiteman had not finished the race.
''I support the decision of the management not to make a protest, but for 12 months of hard work to be ended like that is
devastating,'' he said.
''I'm exceptionally disappointed. I was in a good position with 200 metres to go but before I knew it I was in the infield, clipped then pushed from behind.
''I was also badly spiked. Physical contact is normal in the 1500m but not to that extent.''
However, there was better news for Andrew Graffin and John Mayock, who both got through.
Graffin clocked 3-39.75, as a fastest loser, while Mayock, with the first six to go through, was fourth behind defending champion Hicham el Guerrouj, with a time of 3-39.08.
Mayock commiserated with Whiteman, who might have been reinstated for the next round, had he not walked off the track, but then said: ''I don't give a monkeys. I'm through. That's what matters.''
Ali Said Guerni, of Algeria, was fastest qualifier for the 800m final, with 1-44.19. The race promises to be very evenly matched.
Germany's Nils Schumann won his semi in 1-44.22, same time as Denmark's Wilson Kipketer in the the third. Britain's James McIlroy went out, sixth behind Schumann, with 1-46.39, but one place ahead of defending champion Vebjorn Rodahl (1-48.73).
Eight metres exactly was the qualifying distance for tomorrow's long jump final. Ivan Pedroso was best of the qualifiers, with 8.32m.
There was an outstanding run by Natasha Danvers, who began the season ranked only third of Britain's 400 metres hurdlers, behind Edinburgh's Sinead Dudgeon. Danvers, who is studying for a degree in the music industry, and is a songwriter, returned the best time of her life, 54.95.
Diane Allahgreen recorded a season's best of 13.11 to reach the second round of the women's 100m hurdles, but went out in the next round.
