HEATHER Fell has spoken of her devastation at not making the modern

pentathlon Olympic team.

Despite Heather having won a silver at the Beijing Olympics at the event in 2008 and her recent return to form with a silver in China at the world cup final the selectors went for current world champion Mhairi Spence and world bronze medallist Samantha Murray.

The decision stuck to the selection policy of weighting the World Championships most highly. Five women made the qualifying standard for London but only two could go and despite Heather ranking seventh in the world, and second among British athletes, she was judged fourth best.

Heather also lost out to Freyja Prentice, ranked 24th in the world, for the sole standby spot.

The Merrivale resident said she was knocked back a bit that she wasn't picked as reserve.

'After the worlds I knew I wasn't going to be selected,' she said. 'I was absolutely devastated.

'I had a few days of not wanting to do anything. It felt as if part of me had been taken away. I've put my life into this completely for the last four years and now don't know what to do.

'The world cup silver was at least a nice consolation but the thing that has knocked me back a bit was not even being selected as reserve. That was surprising and very disappointing.

But she added that she was proud to be part of such a strong women's pentathlon and wished the girls the best of luck in London 2012.

Despite the setback Heather is looking forward to competing on the international stage this weekend in the Kremlin Cup in Moscow, Russia followed by another high level competition in Bulgaria on July 7.