WORCESTER'S Simon Archer admitted to mixed feelings today as he celebrated Great Britain's first ever Olympic Games medal in badminton.
Archer and mixed doubles partner Jo Goode landed a bronze medal in Sydney after a nerve-wracking victory over Danish duo Michael Sogaard and Rikke Olsen.
He said: "I feel so proud, excited and ecstatic for ourselves and badminton in Great Britain. It has been a massive achievement for the squad.
"On the other hand I feel we should have been in that final and I'm very disappointed. But it will eventually kick in what we have achieved."
The 27-year-old, who was suffering with a chest muscle injury, added: "We played perfect mixed badminton until 10-1 in the second set of the previous match. I had visions of watching the British flag being flown from the middle pole but it was not to be.
"In the semi-final I hurt it again and I was worried more about that than the opposition. The hardest thing was finishing off the rallies."
In an action-packed match, which lasted 74 minutes, Archer and Goode won the first set 15-4 but then lost the second 12-15.
The third set was a ding-dong affair with the British pair coming back from match point down at 13-14 to win 17-14.
Staff and students at Worcester Sixth Form College, where Archer studied from 1989-91, were today celebrating his medal success.
Paul Johnson, head of physical education, said: "We are delighted for him. He always had that self-belief to go on and become a full international."
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