PARIS, France — Despite failing to qualify for the final of the women’s high jump competition at the Olympic Games on Friday, Lamara Distin has not given up on herself and is planning to bounce back stronger in the future.

Distin, who was one of the favourites for a medal, left many fans in the stadium and around the world in shock when she bowed out of the competition after failing to clear 1.92m in all three attempts.

The 24-year-old had struggled from the beginning of the competition, needing two attempts to clear both her opening heights of 1.83m and 1.88m.

“I know that something was off, and I just tried to give it my best but it just wasn’t good enough,” Distin said. “It’s just very daunting because I know my ability and I know that I am supposed to be in that final.”

She had entered the competition as the third-best high jumper in the world this year with her national record mark of 2.00m. Distin pointed out that she will be doing an overall assessment of her performance and is confident she will get it right in the near future.

“I am just going back to the drawing board and being patient while continuing to believe in God, because maybe God took this away from me for a better moment. I am just hoping that’s what the plan is, and I am sticking to the plan and hoping everything works out,” she said.

Distin underscored that she knew she had some problems with her run-ups before the start of the competition because her rhythm was off.

“I was flat, and I could tell from the start. I was just going to give it my all and try to fight to be in that top 12, but it just didn’t work out.

“Everything happens for a reason, and people are going to say all the negatives they can, but I know what I am capable of doing. It wasn’t my day, and I am not going to beat up myself,” she said. “Yes, I am going to be emotional about it [but] I am just going back to the drawing board and focusing on myself and being better,” Distin pointed out.

DISTIN… maybe God took this away from me for a better moment