Alan Campbell and Richard Chambers both made the Olympic finals rowing for GB in the single skull and lightweight fours, respectively.

However, the international career of Richard Archibald (30) of the Ireland lightweight four may be coming to a close.

His crew finished fourth in their B final, having lost out narrowly in their semi-final.

Campbell's participation was in doubt right up to the Games because of a knee infection which grounded him for five weeks.

"I'm proud of what I have done – proud just to have got here. I made the A Final and I've proved to be an A finalist every time I've jumped in that boat.

"I'm disappointed, but I couldn't have done anything more. There wasn't another stroke left in me today. I gave it everything I had.

You know I'll be back."

Thirty-three year-old Olaf Tufte won gold; Ondrej Synek of the Czech Republic silver and Mahe Drysdale of New Zealand bronze.

Campbell has earned a break and plans to enjoy it.

"I'm going to take a little time now, see the Games (and) enjoy the rest of the races.

"I'm going to see mum and dad and my girlfriend. She got a last-minute flight, so I'm going to see her.

"I've had lots of text messages. (I've got) great support. It was good to be part of it, but that's it."

In the final he made a great start but lacked sharpness in the middle of the race – which was hardly surprising, given the lay-off because of his knee problem.

"There were things the knee added to me, things it took away.

"I really didn't tell the story to everyone. I don't want to have to go through it with everyone because there were a lot of dark days.

Bill (coach Bill Barry) will tell you of the times I cried into his shoulder. We thought the dream was over, so we did. And even before we got here – even flying here on the plane we were in doubt as to what was going to happen.

"Things got better throughout and that (the final) was my best performance of the Games.

"I don't think I can get back in a boat for at least three weeks.

"This was not a stepping stone for 2012. I don't want anyone to say that. The four year plan was for this. Nothing else mattered We will sit down and we will do a four-year plan for 2012. There's no doubts about that."

Chambers's crew came to Beijing after a tremendous 2007 season. "We were the world champions last year and we wanted to become Olympic champions this year. But we couldn't do it," he said.

"We had a good race, we couldn't have looked for anything more. It just wasn't fast enough on the day." Denmark won – with 36-year-old Eskild Ebbesen taking his fourth Olympic medal and his third gold.

Poland were the surprise crew of this class, finishing with silver despite no form worth talking about in recent years.

"It's amazing how much they have improved this season. That's the first time they've beaten us," said Chambers.

Poland had also played a part in the demise of the Ireland lightweight four, with Archibald in the three seat.