FEARS that North-East swimming star Susan Rolph may quit the sport after a heart-breaking Olympics were firmly scotched yesterday.

Back at the Newcastle City Hall baths, the 22-year-old Commonwealth and European 100m freestyle champion declared she was determined to continue her record-breaking career.

She said: "This is certainly not the end. I have to continue. I have devoted 22 years of my life to swimming and am determined to continue doing my best to excel.

"I will definitely be at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002 and will review the situation after that."

But Susan could not hide her deep sense of disillusionment at being denied the chance of a lifetime to go for Olympic gold.

Yesterday, she repeated her argument that it was an opportunity lost because of inadequate pools in the region.

"The pool at which I trained here is less than half the length of the pool I was competing in, in Sydney.

"One has to have a level playing field to be able to compete fairly," she said.

"Failing to qualify in the 200m individual medley final was really upsetting.

"I have trained just as hard as the next person and put so much effort into preparing for the games.

"It really is frustrating, because I know there is more to come out of me.

"I fear the chance to get an Olympic gold will not come again in my swimming career."

Susan said: "We have world class coaches in the region, but no 50m pool between Leeds and Edinburgh.

"Something needs to be done and needs to be done now if we want to produce Olympic standard sports people in the region."

Susan, who threw off her armbands before the age of one, has won two golds, a silver and two bronze medals from the Commonwealth Games. In the process, she has smashed the 100m Commonwealth freestyle record with a time of 55.17secs.

And her record of eight golds at the junior Age Group Nationals, achieved at the age of 13, still stands to this day.

For now, she will be having a brief and well-deserved break, before returning to the serious business of training.

Susan said Newcastle was going to be building a 50m pool, but she would not be able to benefit from it, as it would not be ready for another four years.

She added, with an air of resignation: "I'm not holding my breath."