Colchester race walker Dominic King says he was determined to bounce back from his Rio Olympics heartbreak after clocking an impressive new personal best.

The 33-year-old secured a time of three hours 55 minutes 48 seconds where he finished fourth in the 50 kilometre German International race walk, beating his previous best by 3m 34s.

It helped King clinch the 2017 World Championships qualifying time set by British Athletics and he is now second on the all-time British list behind five-time Olympian Chris Maddocks, who retired after the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

The event in Andernach was King’s first major 50km race walk since this summer’s Olympic Games, where he suffered heartbreak after being disqualified following three “bent knee” warnings having been on course for a personal best.

And the Colchester Harriers member says he was determined to produce a good showing and bounce back from his Rio disappointment.

King told the Daily Gazette: “It was a really, really good performance.

“With Rio, I didn’t have any regrets and I was pleased that I went out there and did my best.

“But to achieve this new personal best time so soon after Rio was very pleasing.

“It was really important for me to find another 50k race and to show that I was in the fittest shape of my life.

“I think it sends an important message, in that if you get knocked down you get up and you get going.

“I could have let what happened in Rio get me down but instead, I used it as a positive.

“It just goes to show what you can do with hard work and had I achieved this time in Rio, I’d have finished 24th.”

King is now set to compete at next summer’s World Championships, which take place in London next August.

King said: “My goal going into the race was to break the World Championships qualifying time, so I’m very pleased to have bettered it.

“It’s still a few months away but it’s very good to take big chunks off my time.

“I didn’t get any warnings and the conditions in Germany were very different to those I encountered in Rio.

“It was cool and wet in Germany, compared to hot and humid in Rio.

“The weather was perfect in terms of the temperature and I just walked with confidence and focused on the technical aspects that I’d worked on.

“Having my coach George Nibre out there to support me was also really important for technical feedback and support.

“Some people might question how long I’ve got left in the sport but I still feel that I’ve got plenty more time on my side and I have four more years of hard work ahead of me.”

King insists he has no regrets about his showing in Rio, despite his disqualification.

“It was disappointing not to finish in Rio but I have absolutely no regrets about the way that I raced the race," said King, who has thanked University of Essex Student Union, sports masseur Dan Worboys of High Woods Sports Massage and coach George Nibre for their assistance in helping him compete in Rio.

“I’d much rather push it too far and run the risk of getting disqualified than just walk at the back hoping to finish.

“London was all about finishing but Rio was all about being 100 per cent true to myself.

“My experience of Rio was very positive other than the final result of my event.

“It probably eclipsed London for various reasons and I’m very grateful to my employers, the University of Essex Student Union, for allowing me to have six weeks and to experience what it’s like to be a full-time athlete.

“I’m immensely proud to have got there while also having a full-time job and a family."

King will now enjoy a break from competing, following a hectic period for the Team GB athlete.

He added: “I have to rest up now and that will signify the end of what’s been a very long season for me.

“I’ve not had a break since last September and that includes training on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day and recovery is crucial, otherwise there’s a danger of over-training."