Bermuda's Olympic campaign fizzled out at Beijing's spectacular 'Bird's Nest' national stadium yesterday as Arantxa King - the last of the Island's six-strong contingent to compete - failed to advance to the long jump final.

The 18-year-old daughter of coach and former athlete Branwen Smith and former Cup Match speedster Adrian King, couldn't produce anywhere near her best when it mattered most.

While the Stanford University student has excelled at the junior level - she struck gold at the World Junior Championships as a 15-year-old three years'

ago, collected another gold at the Carifta Games and finished fifth at the recent Junior Worlds in Poland - she discovered Olympic competition is so much more demanding.

As has been the case with almost of the athletes wearing the red, blue and white of Bermuda at these Games, she'll look at London in four years' time as a more realistic chance to achieve success.

On this day, King could only manage a best of 6.01 metres when it needed a leap of 6.75 to automatically qualify for the final.

Exactly 12 - the number set for those who would go through if not enough in the 42-strong field reached the 6.75 mark - booked their ticket for Friday's medal showdown.

After a foul on her second attempt, King knew everything then hinged on her final effort. But going for broke with a jump that was certainly longer than her first, she looked back to see the red flag signifying another foul.

Results showed her in 37th place overall and 19th among the 21 in her qualifying group.

Yet Bermuda's 2006 Female Athlete of the Year emerged from the sand pit still smiling and satisfied that she had given it her best.

"I'm disappointed at the one mark I recorded (6.01) . . . but on my last jump I went for it because I had nothing to lose.

"I was pretty satisfied with that last jump because if it had been recorded it would have been a personal best.

"So I know I have it in me and I'm glad I went for it on that jump."

Three years' ago, King set a national record of 6.39 metres at the Junior Worlds and since then has improved to 6.42 metres.

But yesterday's classy field included several with PBs of over 6.8 metres.

America's Brittney Reese, who has a PB of 6.95 metres, led the qualifiers with 6.87 while Jamaica's Jade Johnson crept in with a leap of 6.60 to take the 12th and final spot.

The world record of 7.52 metres was set 20 years ago by Russian Galina Chistyakova and in that same year America's Jackie Joyner-Kersee set the still-standing Olympic record of 7.40 metres in Seoul.

King said her preparations had produced pleasing results and she had been confident of recording a mark that would put her in contention for a place in the final.

"I felt great coming into this event. I was relaxed and it was unfortunate I couldn't get my act together . . . overall I'm not disappointed. I'm pleased with that last jump. But I know it's only what's recorded that counts."

Having enjoyed her first Olympic experience, the teenager said she was already looking forward to the next Games.

"Definitely. I'm going to take a little break now and then get right into it when school starts."

And having also made her mark in the triple jump - she's collected gold in that event at the Carifta Games - King says she will continue to compete in both.

"I'm going to pick up the triple jump again. I've been injured for the last couple of months, a tear in my knee, so I haven't been unable to do a lot of jumping. Triple jump would have been too much.

"But when it heals completely, I'll pick up triple jump again.

"I think I'm naturally better at the triple but I like the long jump better.

"Now I'm looking forward to the NCAAs. Last year was my freshman year, I learned a lot but I'm ready to compete again.

"This didn't work out but at the same time it's the Olympics and I was so happy to be here."