By Charlie Bennett in Paris
Jessie Knight says she only had herself to blame after failing to make the Olympic 400m hurdles final.
The Epsom runner finished sixth in her semi-final heat, four places off automatic qualification and with just the 15th fastest time of 25 runners.
Knight, who reached lifetime best shape last season, said fatigue got the better of her after she was forced to come through a repechage just to make the semi-final start line, following a disappointing first round.
The 30-year-old admits she was always up against it to recover in time from the extra race and did not have the legs needed to contend at the front.
“Look it was a really tough semi-final,” she said.
“I know it was going to be a really big ask to make the final but you still hold that little bit of hope.
Lina Nielsen and Jessie Knight will not progress to the 400m hurdle final after finishing overall 25th and 15th respectively.#Paris2024 | #Athletics pic.twitter.com/54tx8MByXH
— British Athletics (@BritAthletics) August 6, 2024
“I was quite happy with the way I ran, I felt a lot of fatigue in the legs in the latter half of the race. But that will be because I ran the repechage yesterday.
“Which again is my fault. If I did things properly the first time, I wouldn’t have had to done that.”
Knight, who spent a year as a full-time primary teacher at Danetree School, qualified a spot at her second Olympics with silver at the British Championships last month.
But her Games started on the back foot when she could only finish fifth in her first-round heat.
That sent her to the repechage, where she clocked 55.10s to reach the semis, before clocking 54.90s in Tuesday night’s semi-final.
Though disappointed, she says she loved every moment of her second Olympics.
“I took it all in when I got to the start line,” she added.
“We all work so hard for moments like this, it’s important to actually to be present and look around.
“I honestly feel so lucky to be able to experience all this if I’m honest. Three years waiting for that moment and it lived up to what I was hoping it would be.
“If I’m being honest, I think the repechage was the best moment.
“Because it was so close and exciting. It’s all part of the journey.
“54.9s tonight is my third quickest time in the season, so it’s not a terrible time at all with tired legs.”
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