Twenty-two-year-old diver Stephan Feck was onto his second jump from the three metre board when, misjudging his three and a half somersault jump, he ended up hitting the water horizontally – to the sound of collective groans from a wincing audience.

The Leipzig-born diver managed one more jump after that but was then advised to quit for health reasons as he was trembling and nauseous, Die Welt said on Tuesday.

While he was not seriously injured, the dive did not win any points, which he said was more painful than the back-flop. “The back comes second,” he said following his exit from the competition.

Away from the pool, German pole vaulter Silke Spiegelburg treated the crowd to a tantrum after she finished in fourth place, Süddeutsche Zeitung said on Tuesday.

The athlete, who had gained fourth place in both the world championships and the European championships had clearly had enough of missing out on the podium.

Crying, she ran across the track during the women’s 3,000 metre race and appeared to have a heated discussion with her trainer.

Still weeping inconsolably, she then ran back across the track – the race still under way – ripped her number off, threw her hands in the air while interrupting her sobs with the occasional, distraught howl.

Then in front of television cameras, Spiegelburg stood crying unable to gather her words. A sympathetic reporter stroked her on the arm and gave her a tissue.

“I’m always in fourth place,” she said eventually. “I do not know what to say anymore.”

The Local/DPA/jcw