ANDY Baddeley was downbeat but not disheartened after his dreams of Olympic glory were shattered at Beijing's Birds Nest stadium on Tuesday.
The Harrow Athletics Club middle distance star finished ninth in the Men's 1,500m Final with a time of 3.35.37 and later admitted his semi-final run had drained him.
The 26-year-old tucked in with the chasing pack before making his move at the bell. However, the leading clutch of runners sped away to leave Baddeley's hopes of a medal in tatters.
Bahrain's Rashid Ramzi won it in 3.32.94 with Kenya's Kipruto Asbel Kiprop and Kiwi runner Nicholas Willis taking silver and bronze respectively.
"I couldn't give anymore," insisted Baddeley after the race. "There were some pretty bad spikings halfway around which put me off my stride. I gave it a good go and was where I wanted to be at the bell. I tried to push on with but I've got no regrets because I've had a good go."
The former Cambridge University student has now vowed to up his training ahead of the 2012 Games in London.
"I'm disappointed to have come so far down the field after doing so well in the heats," he added. "But I will go away and train even harder, get better and push on from there."
