BEIJING - Brent Hayden talked about all the things that gone right in the pool for Canada's swimmers, but that didn't answer the question of what had gone wrong for him.
Hayden had come to the Beijing Summer Olympics talking about wanting to win two medals. Those dreams were washed away Wednesday when the reigning world champion failed to qualify for the finals of the 100-metre freestyle. His second chance at a medal vanished with the 4x200-metre relay team finished fifth.
Hayden noted the relay team had set a Canadian record. He was happy about swimming under 48 seconds for just the second time in his career.
None of that really mattered in the end though.
"I wanted to win a medal," said the Mission B.C. native, water dripping over the Superman tattoo on his chest. "I thought we would have a medal."
Climbing on the podium in the 100 metres was always a long shot for Hayden.
A back injury had slowed his training. In the months leading up to the Olympics he never travelled in the fast lane with people like Australia's Eamon Sullivan and France's Alain Bernard.
They improved. He remained the same.
Hayden's time of 48.20 seconds left him 11th in Wednesday's 100-metre preliminaries where the top eight advance to the final. He was .36 slower than what he swam in Tuesday night's preliminaries
"If you asked me four years ago if it was going to be this fast I would have said you're crazy," said Hayden, who spoke with his bald head slightly bowed. "This past year a lot of cool things have been happening. People have been breaking down walls."
Coming away from the Games empty handed taught Hayden talking about wanting something isn't enough.
"It's a competition," he said. "We're not going to be able to say `we will come in and win this many medals.' It's always going to be a fight and that's the beautiful thing about sport. You never know where those victories are going to come."
Pierre Lafontaine, Swimming Canada's chief executive officer, praised Hayden for shaking off the disappointment of missing the 100-metre freestyle final to swim a strong third leg in the relay.
"This guy wanted it so bad," said Lafontaine. "I'm not sure how many times you would have seen that type of character coming out of a kid with the disappointment he got in that 100 free.
"For him to turn around and do what he did for the team, I would be a proud dad if I was his dad. He did a great job. The other boys were proud of him too."
Hayden is an athlete who has a life outside of sport. He has a black belt in martial arts and is interested in photography.
Not winning an Olympic medal will be another life lesson.
"I just have to accept it," he said. "That's what happens sometimes. I'll live."
Hayden managed a smile when asked if he thinks fans in Canada will be frustrated with the swim team's performance at the Olympics.
"I have been cheering for the Canucks for how long and they still never have won a Stanley Cup," he said. "I still love them.
"I hope Canadians can think of us the same way."
