British world champion Shanaze Reade says she will never get over the pain of missing out on an Olympic BMX medal, but has no regrets about her race.
Reade went into the final as favourite but crashed trying a difficult passing move on the final bend.
"I don't think any athlete will ever be over the pain of experiencing going in as favourite and then coming away empty handed," she told the BBC.
"But each day is getting better and you just want to get recovered now."
When Britain's Olympic team arrived back at Heathrow this week, Reade was pictured hobbling down the steps of the aircraft on crutches.
The 19-year-old, who finished eighth in the race, badly bruised her hand in the fall, though an X-ray showed that there was no fracture.
"I didn't go into the race believing I was going to get silver or bronze or any other position in that race," she said.
"I went into the race to get a gold medal, and I was going to do anything in my capabilities to get a gold medal. The race isn't over until you cross the finish line, so I don't regret anything that I did - I just wanted to win the gold."
Reade, unbeaten all year before the Olympics, said the many messages of support she received from the public had helped her to deal with the pain of defeat.
"My Facebook account, my MySpace and my emails have been flooded with some really nice comments and I couldn't be more grateful for all the general public's support.
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She added: "It's fantastic, I've never been a part of something quite so big and so spectacular, it's amazing how people were really getting behind all the athletes - it's just a fantastic part of my life and I'll always remember it.
"I'm going to carry on until 2012 and hopefully after that as well - my result there is not going to affect my future as an athlete."
French rider Anne-Caroline Chausson won the Olympic women's BMX gold, triumphing ahead of her compatriot Laetitia le Corguille with American Jill Kintner taking third.
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