Sanita Puspure has revealed that she has been unwell this week and says it is "heartbreaking" that her Olympics has ended in withdrawal from tomorrow's single sculls B final.
Puspure's attempt to add an Olympic medal to her World and European titles ended in disappointment earlier this morning at the Sea Forest Waterway.
Puspure, 39, had made it into the Olympic semi-finals at the third attempt and had hoped to reach the final tomorrow.
She has issued a statement, explaining: “Over the past few days I have not been well, and I had to make the difficult decision to withdraw from the Olympic Regatta.
"This is really disappointing, as I had been going well over the past few months and had hoped to continue this good form.
"The Olympics is always a big goal so it’s heartbreaking to have to pull out in this manner.”
Injuries and lack of competition hampered her chance of medalling in Tokyo. She had missed the European Championships earlier this year.
Puspure never got out of the blocks in her semi-final, where she was up against the gold medal favourite, Hanna Prakatsen of Russia, and Janinne Glemlin from Switzerland.
Puspure needed to finish in third place but, despite a gritty comeback, couldn't reel in Jiang Yan of China, and she finished in fifth place.
The veteran is likely to call time on her career now.
