They exchanged light attacks for the four minutes, both incurring penalties for non-combativity; but midway through the contest Fairbrother was given a chui (five penalty points) for a further period of non-combativity. In Atlanta, it was another Spaniard, Isabel Fernandez, who frustrated her attempts to take the bronze. They knew each other only too well - Fairbrother had beaten Fernandez in the final of the European Championships in Birmingham last year.This time, the younger fighter - Fernandez is 24 and on the up - had that extra attacking power. In Barcelona, she lost the final against Miriam Blasco of Spain. Now 26, and with a world and three European titles behind her, she came to Barcelona widely regarded by many as unlikely to take a medal because of losses in the recent major events. But, with not one of Britain's judo team getting anywhere near the podium in four days, she produced her old gritty determination that almost took her all the way. But she probably will not be going to Spain for her holidays.

Nicola Fairbrother failed in her campaign to better the silver medal won at the Barcelona Olympics, narrowly losing the bronze medal fight on one penalty score - but in doing so regained some of her old combative form. The Stockport swimmer, who broke the British record for the 200m butterfly on Monday, set a personal best for the men's 100m butterfly with 53.73. In a heat in which Australia's Scott Miller broke the Olympic record with 52.9, he was fifth and missed the final by five places.. "I'm 27, I'm the first woman in a final for 12 years and it's my personal best since I came back I'm very happy. It's quite an achievement for a little country like Britain which doesn't get much support."James Hickman had the misfortune to be in the presence of greatness yesterday. Yesterday she reinforced that belief, winning her heat with the fourth fastest time, 8:37.54.

At the 150-metre mark it appeared his acceleration might push him for a challenge for the lead.He was too far behind this time, however, and Rozsa proved to be a comprehensive winner. Guttler was second in 2:13.03 and Korneyev third in 2:13.17.You have to go back to the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 since a British woman made it to a swimming final so Sarah Hardcastle's qualification for tonight's 800m freestyle was worth a serious mention in despatches.The Bracknell swimmer has insisted since she came out of a six-year retirement in 1992 that she would not be putting herself through the chore of training if she did not believe she could win a medal. I'm very disappointed."Gillingham, three times a European champion, had qualified fifth fastest just behind Rozsa with whom he has spent the latter half of his career vying for titles.He started slowly, as always; it is in the second half of the race that his smooth stroke begins to make its impact. At 100 metres he was sixth while the Russian Andrey Korneyev made the pace flanked by the Hungarians, Rozsa and Karoly Guttler.As the others tired, however, Gillingham's action began to take over and he inched slowly towards the leaders. "I wanted to get a medal to create a bit of history by getting one in three successive Olympics.