Tears tell the story of Tara Whitten’s disappointment after fourth-place finish in Olympic omnium

The tears spoke the words that caught in Tara Whitten's throat.

The medal Whitten had chased for the last five years remained just out of her grasp Tuesday when she finished fourth in the omnium at the London Olympic Games.

The pain and exhaustion the 32-year-old cyclist from Edmonton felt after the two-day, six-discipline race couldn't match the disappointment and frustration of finishing just off the podium. While speaking to reporters Whitten had to turn away and sob into a white towel.

"It's pretty disappointing,'' she told Postmedia. "We all just wanted to do it so badly for Canada.

"I gave it everything I had today and it just wasn't enough.''

Whitten began Tuesday in the medal hunt, sitting fourth overall after Monday's opening day of racing. She moved into a tie for third place with Australia's Annette Edmonson after the three-kilometre individual pursuit. Edmonson battled back by winning the 10-kilometre scratch race, pushing Whitten into fourth.

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Whitten's medal hopes rested on the time trial but she couldn't make up the ground she needed.

Britain's Laura Trott, the 20-year-old reigning world champion, won the gold medal with 18 points. Sarah Hammer of the U.S. was second with 19 while Edmonson took bronze with 24. Whitten finished with 37 points.

"I hope to race against you again,'' Edmonson told Whitten.

In each omnium event the winner gets one point, the second place rider two points and the third three points. The rider with the lowest total score at the end of six events wins.

On Monday Whitten finished a mildly disappointing seventh in the first race, the flying lap. She moved up to second place overall following the 20-kilometre points race but was eliminated during the 10th sprint of the elimination race while her three main competitors for medals remained.

"I felt comfortable and in the race and aware of what was going on,'' Whitten said. "I made a mistake in the elimination race and that was enough for me to be out.

"There were moments in both days that kind of let me down a bit. It's hard to analyse right now, but I was really counting on a better elimination [race] and it kind of threw me to get knocked out so early. It was hard to refocus after that. It was a little bit of everything."

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Whitten, who won a bronze in the women's team pursuit on Saturday, had a chance to be come the first Canadian at the Games to win two medals.

She came to London considered a medal contender in the omnium, which was making its Olympic debut. Whitten had dominated the event for two years having won the world championship in 2010 and 2011. She finished fourth at this year's world championships in April.

While older than most of the women in the competition Whitten lacked experience. She didn't begin track cycling until age 25 after competing as a cross-country skier.

Whitten's strength is the timed events, about half the omnium's disciplines, not the group races which require more strategy.

"I think some of the girls have a bit more speed,'' she said. "I'm stronger on the endurance side but because I lose on the speed I'm at a disadvantage now.''

Whitten isn't sure about her future. She may resume her PhD studies at the University of Edmonton but hasn't ruled out more racing. She'll make a decision about retirement "when I have a bit more perspective.

"I have no regrets. I've loved this journey . . . and I love the process of just trying to be at your best. It was an incredible experience and I wouldn't trade it for anything."

There also was disappointment in the men's omnium. Zach Bell, a two-time world champion silver medallist, struggled in his opening day and finished eighth.

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