LONDON, England — Olympic champion and record holder Melaine Walker last night gave up her hold on the title after she ran listlessly for sixth place in the semi-final of the women’s 400m hurdles, as the track and field competition of the XXX Olympiad continued at Olympic Stadium in Stratford, London.

Walker, who had performed below her usual high standards this year, ran 55.74 seconds, and could only say afterwards: “I know I am better than running 55 seconds.”

It was a mind-boggling display from Walker and an even more confusing post-race interview that at times swung from the ridiculous to the sublime

A smiling Walker told reporters: “It was just a bad day. I don’t think I really wanted it that much… it is just my mind sometimes things go on in it that I just can’t explain.”

She repeatedly said not making it to Wednesday’s final was not that big a deal. “There are many other finals that I can make and I don’t think it is a very big deal and the only thing left for me to do is to break the world record and I think I can do that on any given day, so I mean it’s just a bad day.”

However, she insisted that she was still motivated to compete. “I am motivated, I am always motivated, but sometimes you get a bad day.”

Asked about reactions from fans back in Jamaica who would be disappointed, Walker said: “I know, I know but there’s plenty of disappointments in this game; I am grateful that I got another opportunity to be here and four years of making all these finals and medalling, I am not disappointed to not be in the final, but I know that my goals are different from being in the final.”

She said her failure to perform at her best would soon blow over: “Stuff are happening every day, this is just one race and it will blow over after a few days,” she concluded, insisting “it is not a big deal”.