Rooney adamant his time will come

MARTYN ROONEY has vowed to learn the lessons from sport's cruellest classroom after a disappointing sixth place finish in yesterday's 400m Olympic final.

Many were tipping Rooney to cash in on Britain's medal bonanza but in the end he left Beijing empty handed albeit wiser for the experience.

After false starting, the 21-year-old made a slow start as the rest of the field sped away.

In his semi-final, Rooney came round the last bend in last place before storming into second - this time though he did not have the legs to make up the ground crossing the line in 45.12 seconds.

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And despite America's LaShawn Merritt winning gold in the fastest time of 43.75 seconds in the world this year, Rooney insists his time will come in four years.

"I came here thinking I was always in with a medal shout tonight," he said. "I had a really good semi-final. I am just disappointed.

"The times are what happens - it is the Olympic final. Everyone has good days and their bad days. Merritt had his good day and he won.

"I think I was one of the contenders but that's what happens.

"I ran a personal best in the semi finals. I came here and beaten a lot of big guys and made my first Olympic final.

"There are lots of positives going into the next year four year cycle. 2012 is obviously a major, major games for British athletes. Being in London will help me a lot and I am really excited about it."

There is a chance for Rooney to make amends with the 400m relay semi-finals tonight.

After the Britain's 100m relay team were disqualified, Rooney is taking nothing for granted and has vowed to get himself more pumped up for action.

He said: "I think I need to get a bit more excited, a bit more nervous.

"I was quite relaxed all day and if I had been a bit more nervous who knows what would have happened.

"What was annoying was how long we were held in the blocks for. I was there for a long, long time.

"I just felt I had been there so long I was not going to start when the gun does go so I went for it.

"I am disappointed in myself for doing that because I have never false started before.

"Some things come with experience and this has taught me a lot."

DANIEL SCHOFIELD in Beijing