When freestyle skier Aiko Uemura banged out the fastest time on her third and last run in the women's moguls final, the tears that welled up behind her goggles told a story of what she had hoped would be her crowning glory.
What four years of complete dedication to a podium finish got her instead was a bittersweet ending — a second consecutive finish in fourth place.
"Wow, what a great run! I am very satisfied," said the 34-year-old Uemura as she teared up after turning on the turbo jets in what was her fifth and likely last Olympics.