The New Zealand Oympic discus thrower Beatrice Faumuina says her request to return home early from Beijing has been misinterpreted.
It was widely reported last week that Faumuina, who failed to qualify for the Olympic discus final, had requested an early release from team management.
This was refused, with Chef de Mission Dave Currie expressing his disappointment at the request, believing Faumuina should stay and support other team members still in competition.
But Faumuina, who eventually arrived home with the rest of the Olympic team yesterday says her request didn't mean she was turning her back on the team.
"There's absolutely no way I want to ever do that. If I didn't want to be part of a team I wouldn't work to qualify. So absolutely not, I mean if you were in Beijing you would have seen us screaming at the venue or screaming downstairs at Bro Town so you know the mere fact that I wasn't there to support the team that's a bit harsh."
