DEJA VU time for Ian Wiley The Ococee Whitewater Centre, near Atlanta, may be some 5,000 miles away from Barcelona, but the 28 year old Dubliner experienced a similarly frustrating time in the Kayak Slalom singles at the Tennesse Ococee River.

Four years ago, Wiley finished fifth, two seconds away from a bronze medal. It was the same again yesterday. Wiley actually held third place after the first run (with the best of two times to count), but was dumped from the bronze medal position by Slovakia's Andraz Vehovar.

"I can't believe it has happened me again," said Wiley. "I had my chance, but I didn't take it. It is hard to take when you put four years into getting here and then it is all over in two minutes. I'm really disappointed."

Wiley, who topped the pre race times in final practice on Saturday, was placed third behind German duo Oliver Fix and Thomas Bekcer after the first run. Fix's time of 141.22 actually held to give him the gold medal, but Becker was overtaken for the silver by Vehovar and had to settle for the bronze with his second run 142.79.

The Irish paddler was aware that both Vehovar and Frenchman Laurent Burtz had overtaken him with their second runs before he set off and raced for Smiley Face the distinctive painted rock with a happiness symbol spray painted on and was going quite well with no penalties until hitting the 19th gate (of 25) just after Callihan Ledge, the middle of three gates at that juncture.

Wiley knew immediately his chance of an Olympic medal had vanished at that stage and, with his concentration lapsing, he missed a gate just after Humongous, the hardest rapid on the course which is within sight of the finishing line.

It was a cruel irony for Wiley to again miss out on the bronze medal by just two seconds. The Cherokee National Forest. 130 miles north of Atlanta, where the white water centre is sited, will leave the memory of what might have been for Wiley.

Fix's first run time of 141.22 was enough to give him the gold medal with Vehovar improving by almost four seconds with his second run to dock 141.65 and Becker's second run of 142.79 giving him the bronze. Wiley's first run of 145.21 just wasn't good enough. Again. And generated more disappointment for Ireland's top canoeist. His second run was of 207.26 included 60 penalties.