Article originally published 13/08/2016: due to a technical issue this article may have resurfaced for some readers, and the original publish date may not have been visible.
Martyn Rooney has delivered a brutal review of his failed attempt to make the Olympics Games’ 400m final, conceding that he “ran like a dick”.
Using Anglo-Saxon language he later apologised for, the European champion turned the air blue after only finishing fifth in his heat in Rio - with his time not good enough to secure a fastest losers’ slot.
With it 3am in the UK, the audience may have been modest back home - but Rooney moved to correct himself almost straight away.
He said:
“I ran like a dick, it’s pretty much simple as that. I’m sorry, it’s late ...
“I’ve come to the Olympics to come perform with the best. I feel like I’m in PB shape. I don’t know what I was doing the first 250.”
Rooney, a double European champion, added: “I’m just gutted for myself and everyone that’s supported me.”
Interviewer Phil Jones apologised to anyone watching who was offended, and former Olympian Steve Cram in the commentary box offered: “His description, whatever words he used, were’t all that wrong to be fair.”
Rooney later took to Twitter to apologise - again - and set his sights on the 4x440m relay.