ParalympicsGB hero Ellie Simmonds has announced her retirement from the Games after finishing fifth in her final tilt at a medal.
The ParalympicsGB flagbearer was going for her sixth gold and ninth medal overall in the S6 400m freestyle final, but initially suffered the agony of being disqualified.
She was accused of not touching the wall at a turn, but after a protest from the British team she was reinstated and placed fifth in the results.
"I think this is going to be my last [Games]," Simmonds said in the aftermath, "I'm going to go home and evaluate.
"Watching as an eight or nine-year-old watching Athens 2004... to think as a kid, then that I would not just go to one Games but four games, a home Paralympics and come away with eight Paralympic medals and have been part of that Paralympic movement [is amazing].
"I think that this is going to be my last, to be honest, yes. I'm not just saying that because I'm gutted [at not winning] or anything like that.
"I knew going into these Games that this was going to be the last. I don't think that I can go for another three years. I'm leaving it at the right time, I love it. I can't thank everyone enough for the support."
While the 26-year-old will be disappointed to end her Paralympics adventures on such a sour note, she can reflect on an impressive career which saw her win eight medals across three Games.
Simmonds made a huge impact when, aged just 13 and as the youngest British athlete at the 2008 Games in Beijing, she swam to two gold medals in the S6 100m and 400m freestyle.
She added to that with another four medals at her home Games at London 2012, defending her 400m crown and winning the 200m individual medley as well as a silver and a bronze in the 100m and 50m freestyle respectively.
She showed little sign of slowing down with another gold and a bronze at Rio 2016, but despite her best effort she was unable to add one last medal to her collection in Tokyo.
Simmonds was the youngest person in history to be made an MBE when she received the honour as a 14-year-old in 2009, and was later elevated to OBE in 2013 for her services to sport.
She became the first woman in more than 20 years to be named flagbearer for the British team at the Paralympics opening ceremony last month, when she shared the honour with archer John Stubbs.
The swimmer is credited with inspiring a whole new generation of para-athletes to take over the mantle, including Maisie Summers-Newton who broke a Paralympic record on the way to 100m breaststroke victory at these Games.
Speaking to Channel 4, Simmonds added: "It's been an amazing part to play, inspiring the next generation, and I'm honoured.
"It makes me emotional to think that the likes of Maisie [Summers-Newton], Ellie [Challis], all of those girls who were inspired by me when they watched London 2012. Now, they're inspiring that next generation.
"It's amazing. It's not just me out there racing, it's everyone behind me. I'm so thankful for everything."
It's possible Simmonds may appear at next year's Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, but it seems this is the last we will see of her at a Paralympic Games.
