KEY POINTS:
Bursts of encouragement were not enough to get Moss Burmester a medal yesterday, but friends at his training ground were far from disappointed.
Members of North Shore's Millennium Institute of Sport & Health scrambled to find a television screen at exactly 2.18pm yesterday, as they put work and training on hold to watch Burmester race in the 200m butterfly final.
As the shot fired to signal the start of the race, all were eagerly encouraging their friend, with yells of "come on!" and "go Moss!" heard, while some bounced on their toes - waiting for the moment to jump in celebration.
A congratulatory applause and comments including "good on ya mate" and "well done" followed though, when Burmester finished fourth. He only just missed out on a medal but achieved a personal best time of 1:54:35 - beating the previous record time of 1:55.99.
His friend and marketing manager at the institute, Julie Meyer, said: "It's awesome that he ran so fast on that first lap. If only he got a medal - he was so close."
Steve Lindsay, aquatics and general manager at the Millennium Institute, said it was a proud moment for Burmester, whose training for the Olympics included 10 swimming sessions, five sittings at the gym and four sessions at pilates each week at the institute.
"You just have to be very proud of his swim and for himself. He challenged himself and the field and went out there and gave it everything - you can't ask for more."
Mr Lindsay acknowledged that although Burmester finished fourth, achieving a personal best was something to highlight.
"I know deep down he would've liked to have come third and get the medal, but he got a PB. It'll be a proud time for him and his family."
After his race, Burmester said he hoped for "a little quicker" than his finish time, but acknowledged that he had given it his all. "I left everything in the pool. I couldn't have done anything more," he said.
Mr Lindsay said his new personal best which as a result has improved his international ranking, was one of the main things Burmester should be most proud of, especially given the fact that he had been ill in the lead-up to the race.
Mr Lindsay said: "He just done himself and the country proud; he gave us all a thrill."
