Eliza McCartney competes in the Paris Olympics women's pole vault final. Photo: photosport
Eliza McCartney isn't sure she'll be back for another Olympics after missing the pole vault podium in Paris - eight years after leaping to bronze at the Rio Games.
McCartney and New Zealand team-mates Imogen Ayris and Olivia McTaggart lasted through to the midway point of the women's final on Thursday but couldn't feature at the business end of the competition.
Australian Nina Kennedy was a surprise winner, clinching gold when she was the only athlete to clear 4.90m
Australia's Olympics women's pole vault champion, Nina Kennedy. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
She headed off American defending champion Katie Moon, who claimed silver from Canada's Alysha Newman on a countback after both successfully cleared 4.85m.
McCartney exited when the bar was raised to 4.80m, narrowly failing in each of her three attempts.
It was a disappointing outcome for the 27-year-old who had sailed over on her first attempt at each of her two previous heights - 4.60m and 4.70m.
She nevertheless produced her trademark smile after the bar fell for a third time and later said it was because ''you never know whether you are going back again".
Eliza McCartney waves farewell after going out of the women's pole vault final at the Paris Olympics. Photo: photosport
"I want to be going to LA in four years time but I don't know if it's going to happen. Why wouldn't I just enjoy this moment because it's happening right now and I get to be out there.
"The atmosphere out there is amazing, it's so special to get these opportunities. So I just love it. The fact I get to go out there and do my thing,express myself, pole vault which I love to do. How lucky am I, I just love it all."
McCartney said was in tears when speaking later to journalists and reflected on her ongoing battle with a variety of injuries, including problems in the leadup to Paris.
"It was a really tough preparation, nothing like my indoor season which went really smoothly and beautiful," she said.
"I wasn't as prepared as I would have wanted to be, then we made some good decisions in the last month or two to actaully I could get here and pole vault, because that was never guaranteed with me.
"So to get able to get in a final and come sixth equal, I will absolutely take that.
"My attempts at 4.80 were just not quite it, I think it showed I didn't have the right run-in, but I do really believe I gave everything I could today, so you can't ask anything more than that, so I'm happy."
Olivia McTaggart (L), Imogen Ayris (C) and Eliza McCartney celebrate together after qualifying for the Women's Pole Vault Final at Stade de France during the 2024 Paris Olympics. Photo: Simon Stacpoole / www.photosport.nz
Ayris finished 12th and McTaggart 13th after both cleared 4.60m in their first Olympic final appearance but neither could advance when the target was increased by another 10cm.
Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Ayris was able to improve on her personal best, which previously sat at 4.57m.