Especially when the next youngest competitor in the field is five years older than you.

Dani Samuels is only 20 years old, but the former Westfields Sports High School student showed she has what it takes to compete on the big stage.

She qualified for the final of the women's discus event with a throw of 61.72metres last Friday, finishing fifth in group A.

The youngest member of the Australian Olympic track and field team was aiming to eclipse her personal best of 62.95metres.

But Samuels' first attempt was not her best: a distance of 57.14metres.

Her second throw was judged ineligible, leaving her medal aspirations for her final throw.

Unfortunately she fell short after a throw of 60.15metres on her third attempt.

``I'm disappointed, just to be so close and fall short,'' Samuel said. ``I'm more disappointed that I didn't throw to the best of my ability. If I did throw well but just didn't make it I'd be OK, but I'm disappointed in myself.''

With age on her side, Samuels could well be in medals contention in London in 2012.

Another former Westfields Sports student, Fabrice Lapierre, who is based in the US, will be looking forward to the London Games.

Lapierre, 24, narrowly missed out on the finals in the men's long jump with a distance of 7.90metres, four centimetres short of the distance required to qualify.

But probably the most disappointing performance of the Olympic Games came from the Olyroos.

Such high expectations were placed on Graham Arnold's men leading into the tournament, but they failed to live up to them.

Athens Olyroo Alex Brosque said they played a ``negative style of soccer''.

``They had a great squad, a great lead up and we didn't get to see the best of them,'' he said.