LYNSEY SHARP claimed she took no notice of those who questioned her Olympic selection – but admitted she was disappointed with her London experience.
Sharp was controversially picked for the Games, despite not achieving an Olympic A standard time in the 800m, after her win at the trials and silver medal at the European Championships in Helsinki.
Some expressed surprise the 22-year-old was chosen ahead of former world medallist Jenny Meadows, British No.2 Marilyn Okoro and Emma Jackson, who have all run quicker this season.
And Jemma Simpson, another overlooked for a place on the team, last night claimed the time needed to qualify for the final – 1:59.40mins – should have been well within the capabilities of British athletes.
However, UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee kept his faith with the young Scot, whose father Cameron competed at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, and she insisted the off-the-track talk was not a distraction.
"I tried not to focus on the selection side of it and justifying it, I just wanted to do what I knew I could do and I am disappointed that I didn't do it," she said, after coming home seventh of eight in a time of 2:01.78 in her 800m semi-final.
"I wanted to walk off the track having done myself proud and the time I ran is not what I am capable of. I am in the best shape of my life but it didn't come together when I really wanted it to.
"My aim was to make the semi-finals, but I also thought I could run a personal best. However, neither of the races were run in a personal best time, so I guess I should be happy with achieving half of it."
Sharp was badly boxed in her semi-final, with the first lap run at a pedestrian pace.
And when her rivals turned on the gas at the bell, Sharp had no response to their injection of speed.