KEY POINTS:
An emotional Liza Hunter-Galvan may have raced in the black singlet for the final time, saying she was still sick to the stomach over the circumstances of her selection.
New Zealanders Nina Rillstone and Hunter-Galvan completed the marathon in Beijing yesterday. Rillstone finished 16th of 81 starters, in 2h 31m 16s, four-and-a-half minutes behind the winner, Constantina Tomescu-Dita from Romania.
Hunter-Galvan was 35th, more than three minutes further back.
The 38-year-old originally missed selection for the team despite posting an "A" qualifying time. She successfully appealed to the New Zealand Sports Tribunal but said the experience had affected her "psyche".
"It was mentally tough for me. I prepared the best I could. I can't say my [physical] preparation was affected, but my psyche was. It was hard," Hunter-Galvan said. "I've felt sick to my stomach ever since."
When asked if she wanted to continue running for New Zealand, she replied: "I don't really want to comment on that, sorry. It's left a bad taste in my mouth. I still haven't had an apology from them [Athletics New Zealand]."
Hunter-Galvan said she would not be seeking the word "sorry", saying it was up to athletics officials to swallow their pride and make the right move.
A switch of allegiance to the United States could be imminent for the San Antonio resident.
"I have to think about that. When people don't want you, they don't want you."
The two-time Olympian was desperate to compete to give her daughter Amber "some memories".
The family was involved in a car accident in February last year that left her eldest daughter with serious head injuries.
"I saw her at 40km and waved at her," a tearful Hunter-Galvan said. "Can you believe I had enough energy to wave. I could hear them screaming. I wanted to cry but I needed to save my energy."
Until 7km from the finish, Hunter-Galvan was running the race of her life. "I was going great until 35km when I had to stop to tie my lace. I had to stop and I lost them ... and I lost it. I started getting really dizzy."
Hunter-Galvan ended the race by collapsing over the line, requiring medical assistance at the side of the track.
Rillstone's race didn't end so dramatically, but just as satisfyingly. "It always takes a bit of reflection to decide whether you're happy or sad, but in lots of ways things went right for me, and in some ways it certainly wasn't the perfect performance."
