Thaindian News

London, Aug 8 (IANS/CMC) Jamaican hurdler Brigitte Foster-Hylton says the 2012 season will be the last of her long, sterling career, a day after she crashed out of the London Olympics in the first round.

The sprint hurdler, chasing what has been an elusive first Olympic medal, hit the fourth hurdle in her preliminary round heat Tuesday, lost momentum and missed out on qualifying after finishing seventh, reports CMC.

She said the decision to retire after the London Olympics, however, had been made from last year.

“At the start of the season I said this was my last season. All I really want is an Olympic medal,” she told a group of Jamaican journalists here.

Foster-Hylton is Jamaica’s most successful sprint hurdler, having won the 2009 World Championship title, to add to her silver and bronze from the 2003 and 2005 editions respectively.

She also won at the Commonwealth Games in 2006 and the Pan Am Games in 2003.

“I think I had achieved quite a lot at the World Championships - gold, silver, bronze - there is nothing else to look forward to,” said the 37-year-old.

“All I wanted is an Olympic medal and that didn’t happen so I am moving along,” added Foster-Hylton, who will turn 38-year-old later this year.

Foster-Hylton’s agony was evident at the end of the heat as she fell to the track in tears and remained inconsolable as she made her way from the area.

“Jamaica has been great to me. I think I have done a lot for my country and for my event and for young ladies, in particular running the hurdles event and so I think I have done a good job and I am a proud Jamaican,” she said.

–IANS/CMC
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