Mark English on Olympic sem-final: 'It’s difficult but what can you do?'

Mark English cut a disappointed figure following his elimination from the Men’s 800m at the semi-final stage of the Olympic Games in Paris.

The 31-year-old put in an excellent first three-quarters and led the field, with all going to plan, only to come sixth in the end in a time of 1:45.97.

“I went out to try and win it so I’m disappointed,” he said afterwards at the Stade de France. “I wanted to make a good start and be in it at 200m and try and move into the lead or even second at 600 and I did that. But the wheels came off 50 metres from the end. It just wasn't my day. It’s an 800m race, unfortunately. It’s not what I want.”

The Letterkenny native finished second in his heat in a time of 1:45.15, just behind France’s Gabriel Tual, who clocked 1:45.13 on Wednesday and English was hopeful of making that level and beyond.

“My heat performance was the best I’ve ever put in at an Olympic Games,” the three-time Olympian added. “I’m privileged to line up in that semi-final, that’s the top 24 in the world. It’s difficult but what can you do? All my family are over, so I’ve a lot of people to thank here.”