OLYMPIC rower Vicky Thornley has agonisingly missed out on a medal in the final at the women’s single sculls at Sea Forest Waterway.

The 33-year-old Welsh rower was pipped to bronze by Austria’s Magdalena Lobnig after a strong second half of the race, but she had to settle for fourth, just 67 hundredths of a second behind. New Zealander Emma Twigg took gold.

Thornley had been bidding for a second Olympic medal after winning double sculls silver alongside Dame Katherine Grainger in Rio five years ago.

St Asaph-born Vicky lived in Colwyn Bay until the age of 11, and attended Rydal Penrhos School, before moving to Holt in Wrexham.

The 33-year-old got off to an incredible start of her latest Olympic performance, having previously stormed ahead in heat four of the women's single sculls on July 23.

She secured a place in the upcoming final race after Thursday's semi-finals on the water in Tokyo’s purpose-built Sea Forest Waterway.

But after a disappointing end, she said: “Fourth is tough, but I don’t think I could have done any more, especially in the second half of the race.

“I didn’t have quite enough at the end, but I am proud of what I have delivered over the last eight days. There have been some hellish days, especially the three days waiting for the semi-final.

“The last five years have been incredible – some of my darkest days and some of my best days. I am proud of the race I put together.

“I thought I had the momentum, but I didn’t have quite enough.”