AFTER 690 days, it all came down to 3.47 seconds. Bradley Forbes-Cryans had to wait a long time for his chance to win an Olympic medal after being initially selected back in October 2019.
And when that moment finally arose the Edinburgh paddler would be deprived of a place on the canoe slalom podium by less time than it takes to tie your shoelace.
Having finished in fifth spot in the semi-finals to remain in medal contention, the former Alva CR Cats Canoe Club member couldn’t improve on that placing in the final.
The 26 year-old started well as he stormed through the first few gates. But he lost time between gates four and five and also picked up a penalty to record a time of 100.58.
That was good enough to put him in the bronze medal place but, with four of the best paddlers in the world still to race, it looked unlikely he would remain there.
And so it proved, with the Czech Jiri Prskavec taking K1 gold and Forbes-Cryans finishing down in sixth, 8.95 seconds behind the Czech and an agonising 3.47 seconds too slow to earn a medal.
That will give more ammunition to those who, somewhat unfairly, have argued that Rio champion Joe Clarke should have been given the chance to defend his title.
Forbes-Cryans, though, was content he could walk away with “his head held high”.
“Being a top six Olympian sounds absolutely fantastic,” he said. “Coming to the Games my only goal for myself was to do my best and I feel I can walk away from this feeling like I’ve done that.
"In the final, unfortunately I feel I had a poor cross from gate 4 to gate 5 which has cost me a medal there.
"There was a shake of the head at the end because, when I missed that cross, you just really want to restart your run.
“You start with great intentions, a solid plan in my head and I had no doubts I was going to be capable of delivering that.
“I’ve been on the wrong side here of the small margins of the sport. But I’m absolutely thrilled to be here, I’ve loved every minute of it and I can’t wait to get home to celebrate with friends and family.
“Being a Scottish Olympian representing Team GB is fantastic. Campbell Walsh and David Florence came through the same club and same Scottish set-up I did with CR Cats canoe club
“For me coming into these Olympic Games, I aim to go into every competition to do my best and that was my absolute best today.
“There are mistakes on race day. I did my best to recover and I feel like I’m walking away with my head held high.
“I’m looking forward to getting back and getting on with the next job, the main one being the senior World Championships.”
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