Big things have been expected of McIntosh at the Olympics since she won the 50m prone rifle world title in 2018 and the World Cup final the following year.
World Cup and European titles have followed, but returning empty handed from Paris after failing to reach the final in any of the three disciplines she contested still rankles.
“I think most of it is out of my system, there is always going to be a little bit that stays,” McIntosh said.
“It felt like that was the second time it had happened – it all conspired against me for Tokyo [Olympics in 2021] and the same thing happened for Paris, so that disappointment was, I think, doubled almost because of that.
“I am not sure if I am completely over it yet. We will find out when I go back to training, or even when we get to LA.”
McIntosh revealed that, prior to Paris “I was absolutely adamant I was going to retire” after it, regardless of how she got on.
Amid her despair in France, a chat with her partner prompted a change of heart and the decision to have another go at trying to turn her Olympic medal dreams into reality.
“He turned to me and he said ‘I know this isn’t necessarily the right time for this, and obviously take time to make the decision, but if you want to go back for another games, given everything that has just happened, I will totally understand and I will 100% support you’,” she recalled.
“I was then like ‘I don’t think I could give it up at this point given what has just happened, I think I have to try again’, because that was twice in a row I had got to the games as world number one and fluffed it up or something has happened.
“Even for my own sanity, I couldn’t retire at this point in time and then be content with what has happened.”
