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Faye McClelland "gutted" with fourth-place finish

Great Britain's Faye McClelland tells Sports Mole that she is "gutted" to miss out on a Paralympic triathlon medal, but is proud to have been part of the event's debut.

Great Britain's Faye McClelland has admitted that she is "gutted" to have missed out on a medal in the women's PT4 triathlon at the Paralympic Games.

McClelland finished 37 seconds behind France's Gwladys Lemoussu alongside the Copacabana beach in Rio, failing to join compatriot and silver medallist Lauren Steadman on the podium.

The 36-year-old insists that she is content with her performance, but admits that it is disappointing to have finished in fourth place.

"It was tough out there. I gave it my all. I had a solid performance for me. The girls I knew were going to be tough competition, especially Gwladys and Kate [Doughty]," she told Sports Mole.

"I had a good swim, the bike I found really tough, it was just a matter of hanging on in the run. Gutted it was fourth, just outside of third, but that's how racing is.

"I was obviously wanting to medal, third would have been awesome. But I knew it was going to be tough and I did everything I could on the day so you know, I can't be disappointed with that."

The sport is making its Paralympic debut in Rio, but McClelland expects it to become a fixture at the event in the future.

"Being part of it is such an emotional experience for me and my teammates. I'll remember this day forever. Just to get here is a huge achievement," she added.

"It certainly will [be a regular in the Paralympics]. Paratriathlon now will continue to grow as it has done in the Olympic side. It just shows you how popular it is now.

"It's such a big sport and this will really highlight to the rest of the world what we're all about. It's exciting, I just feel privileged to be a part of history today, making its debut."

Britain ended the competition second in the paratriathlon medal table with one gold, two silvers and a bronze.

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Lauren Steadman emerges from the water during the women's PT4 triathlon at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on September 11, 2016
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