Kerenza Bryson could not add to Great Britain’s medal haul at Paris 2024 as she fell out of contention in the Olympic women’s modern pentathlon.

The 25-year-old junior doctor – who was Team GB’s sole representative in the final because defending champion Kate French withdrew before Sunday’s climax – led after Saturday’s semi-finals but finished ninth in the final.

“I’ve got mixed emotions,” Bryson said.

“Not getting a medal here makes me hungry for another Olympic Games.”

Bryson slipped to fifth after the opening showjumping event – which will be dropped for Los Angeles 2028 as a result of the horse-punching controversy in Tokyo – and fell to sixth by losing quickly to Italy’s Elena Micheli in the fencing.

Swimming is considered the Briton’s weakest event and, needing a fast 200m freestyle to make up ground, she trailed the rest of the field in her heat.

That left Bryson sitting seventh going into the final event of laser run – which is a 3,000m run, split into five 600m laps and four visits to the shooting range.

She needed to make up a gap of 30 seconds in the time trial to finish on the podium, but that never looked likely.

Hungary’s Michelle Gulyas won gold with a new world record of 1,461 points, just ahead of French veteran Elodie Clouvel, who finished on 1,452.

South Korea’s Seung-min Seong claimed bronze with 1,441 as Bryson ended on 1,404.

Bryson, who is also an army reservist, received a huge ovation from British fans as she jogged around the track with a Union Jack minutes later.

“I’m really disappointed with my performance, I came here to get a medal and I thought I was capable of one,” said Bryson, who took a year off medicine and starts a NHS job in Bath next month.

“But I’m also trying to be really positive and remember I’m Olympian.

“I’m also a doctor and an army officer and sometimes you have to remember there is more to life than sport and medals.”