The French sprinter Christophe Lemaitre became the first man to complete the European championship treble of 100, 200 and 4 by 100 metres relay but his efforts were not enough to put France above Russia in the final medals table.
Russia ended the championships in Barcelona with 10 golds, two ahead of France on eight with Britain third on six.
There was joy for Croatia's world champion high jumper Blanka Vlasic but disappointment for Turkey's Elvan Abeylegesse, who did not quite have the legs to add the 5,000 to her 10,000 crown.
