Paula Radcliffe's hopes of adding the one major marathon honour to have alluded her ended in disappointment in Beijing on Sunday.

The Bedford & County AC athlete finished in 23rd place in a race that was won by 38-year-old Romanian Constantina Tomescu in a time of 2.26.44hrs.

Mara Yamauchi was the best placed of the British finishers in sixth, while Radcliffe's Bedford & County clubmate Liz Yelling ended up in 26th.

It was a tearful Radcliffe who crossed the line in the Bird's Nest Stadium as the reality of another Olympic anti-climax hit home.

Radcliffe had been in contention seven miles from home but, as Tomescu upped the pace, she faded in the final quarter of the race and was forced to stop two miles out with an attack of cramp.

With an injury-hit build-up to the games that severely hampered preparations – her participation was only confirmed days before the race – it would have been asking a lot for Radcliffe to claim victory, a fact that was confirmed as events unfolded.

Despite this, it was a determined effort that left her mum Pat, who was in the Olympic stadium, feeling especially proud.

She said: "It was a really good effort given the setbacks she has had over the summer.

"Just to get to the camp in Macau and then to Beijing and the race was an achievement.

"Paula was really disappointed – she obviously wanted to finish a lot higher – but we're really proud of her for running and finishing. In my eyes she's won her gold medal."

Pat was also impressed with the run of Yelling.

She added: "Liz's fall – she fell heavily after 10 miles – set her back and it was a shame because she was up there with the pace. To see two Bedford runners competing so well was great."

There was also an undesirable end for Gail Emms as she and her mixed doubles partner Nathan Robertson were beaten in the badminton quarter-finals by the Korean duo of Lee Yong Dae and Lee Hyo Jung.

The pair had entered the games with high hopes of going one step better than in Athens four years ago where they claimed a silver medal.

After getting the better of the Chinese second seeds Zheng Bo and Gao Ling, Emms and Robertson would have fancied their chances but the last eight proved to be a step too far.

Former Dame Alice Harpur pupil Emms announced her retirement following her exit, saying: "That's it. I didn't want to go out like this, I wanted to end on a high.

"But I've had a wonderful life in the sport and there's nothing better than being an Olympian.

"No, we never won the gold medal but we've done everything else. And I've loved every minute of it."