The Aussie finished as the 21st fastest skater when he needed to be in the top 20 to move on – a difference of just 0.079 of a second between progressing.

But despite the obvious disappointment, there were plenty of upsides to his brave race in which he clocked a time of 41.097 seconds.

“I feel good. I mean that was my fastest time in my career, so that’s something to be proud of,” Brendan said.

“There’s not much more I could have done differently.”

Brendan came into the event very much as the underdog, admitting it wasn’t his favourite distance to compete in.

A tough draw didn’t help - having to start from fourth position in the second heat.

“When you come in second name from the bottom you’re not going to get a good draw, so I was expecting that coming in.

“I had no option but to choose my own track and just push myself.”

He doesn’t go home empty handed - walking away from his debut Games appearance with an Australian Record (set in his blistering 1000m heat), and a Personal Best time in the 500m.

“All in all it was a good first Olympics and hopefully this will make me stronger.

“I plan on coming back in four years time. This has given me a taste for it and I want to keep going.”

Katherine Firkin