A DETERMINATION to not just make up the numbers was Dominic King’s eventual downfall as the Colchester Harrier was disqualified from the World Championship 50km race walk before the half way point.

King, 34, competed at London 2012, where he finished 51st, but was disqualified from Rio 2016 for three ‘bent knee’ warnings, meaning the judges thought he was not straightening his leg enough and was ruled to have been running.

And lightning struck twice in London on Sunday as the same issue came back to haunt him in the 50km walk, up and down the iconic Mall.

Host to the finish of the London Marathon, WorldTour cycling races and the Olympic cycling road races, King was unable to add his name to the list of illustrious finishers on the famed red road.

He had gone through 20km in 1:32.57, enough for 36th place and on course for a personal best time, but the judges swiftly took action and pulled him from the race before the next time check.

"I did well to get here but I didn't want to come here and just walk round at the back,” he said.

“I was pleased I was inside my personal best pace. I am just disappointed that the judges didn't think the technique was up to scratch, which is fair enough.

"I am honoured to where the GB vest and I am really proud of my achievements but I have ambitions to do even better, which is why I am disappointed with today.”

The race was won by France’s Yohann Diniz in a time of 3:33.12, a championship record.

But the Brit would have had to knock around 14 minutes off his personal best to reach the podium, leaving King going back to basics to establish a more reliable technique.

"It was really good to have home support and it was an iconic setting,” he added. “Conditions were okay for 50k but today it was technique that was holding me back because I was fit enough.

"It is something I have been working on. Unfortunately sometimes my hips tighten up which causes my body position to be in the wrong placement to straighten my legs.

“It is a problem I have had for many years and it is something we have tried different ways to address.

"We will go back to the drawing board and have a look to see what we can do to correct the technique so I can get the most out of myself.”

You can help the next generation of young British athletes by getting involved in SportsAid Week this September with London 2012 hero Greg Rutherford MBE. Find out more about how you can support the week of fun and fundraising by visiting www.sportsaid.org.uk/sportsaidweek