Predictions that Team GB might challenge the odds-on favourites Australia in the "battle for fourth" in Beijing seem that little bit less likely to be fulfilled after former world champion Craig Fallon was defeated by the Austrian Ludwig Paischer in the second round of the men's judo 60kg competition.
Fighting on mat two Fallon had seemed out of sorts from the start, his victory over Monaco's Yann Siccardi taking longer than expected despite the disparity in class. "It was a poor fight," he said afterwards.
Nevertheless he should have fancied his chances against the Austrian Ludwig Paischer, whom he lost to the first time they fought just out of the juniors, but whom he has beaten on the last five occasions.
The pre-bout antics, however, suggested it was the belligerent Austrian who held the psychological advantage as he leaped around giving it the big statement stuff. Fallon, meanwhile, looked daunted not dominant, as if things were happening elsewhere.
It was little surprise then when the Austrian took the lead and doubled it when Fallon was cautioned for passivity. He attempted to attack but he was been 'beaten to the technique', that is to say, Paischer was getting his moves in first and proving the old saw that attack is the best form of defence. It was quickly over as Fallon made the quietest of exits.
Slight, and slightly distant, he tried to explain how his golden chances had disintegrated so quickly. "From the warm up this morning I've been struggling to get my head into it a bit. I'm not sure if it's the heat but my mind has been wandering and I'm finding it hard to concentrate. I knew it would be a tough one and I tried to get my head round it but I couldn't pick it up.'
"I fought him in the World Cup [earlier this year] and beat him quite
easily. My weight's been fine. My shoulder's fine. I can't look back and say I haven't trained hard. It's just."
All in the head. And as a Fallon attempted to get to grips with what had just happened to him he showed quite starkly how bewilderingly quickly things happen at this level. He had trained for four years. The fight lasted five minutes. All that effort and then kazaam, that's you lot, mate.
He still retains an outside chance of a bronze. Paischer has already made the semi-finals of the tournament, allowing Fallon, and everyone else Paischer has beaten, to take part in the repercharge for a crack at the remaining medal. It is a format that should encourage you to be a good loser. Today, Fallon was just a baffled one.