Megan Fletcher admits that today's gut-wrenching defeat in her first Olympic Judo match will be her last.
Fletcher, whose brother Ben also competes tomorrow, was close to victory against Austria’s Michaela Polleres in what was a rematch from the bronze medal clash at the world championships six weeks ago.
But the world number eight prised victory from the jaws of defeat with a a waza-ari move.
Just like taekwondoin Jack Wooley, Fletcher was beaten with three seconds left.
Speaking last year to Mirror Sport, the 31-year-old admitted that the postponement of the Olympics from its original summer 2020 date had changed her plans - she had intended to retire just after it.
The Berkshire woman who represented GB before changing allegiance in 2017, decided to carry on to compete in her first Games.
“I think this is my last competition," said an emotional Fletcher after her contest.
“I'm very proud of myself, I have had a great career. It's great for our family.
"It was really hard watching Ben in Rio when I didn’t make it myself. I am very proud of him and will cheer him on tomorrow.
“It was always going to be a really hard contest,
All of our career we have been having head-to-head fights. You have to be in the best position that you can, someone has to win and someone has to lose. It wasn’t meant to be today.”
Reflecting on those vital last moments, Fletcher said: “I tried to close the space and came in high, which is somewhere where she is very strong and she caught me in those last final few seconds.”
