Luke Cutts is disappointed not to have made the pole vault final in Rio but now plans to stop work and become a full-time athlete while targeting the next two Olympic Games.

The 28-year-old from Thurnscoe failed to make it through the qualifying events in his first Olympics but he is hoping to return for Tokyo in 2020 then the following games in 2024 when he will be 36.

"The whole experience has been fantastic," said Cutts, who has been working at a packing factory in Goldthorpe alongside his training and bringing up a young family.

"I just wish I could have made the final and made some history. I have still got two more Olympics. I can carry on for another eight years. It's just down to me now to show everyone what I can do.

"There is the World Championships in London next year. Hopefully I will stop working and that will allow me to train a lot more."

Cutts' competition got off to a false start on Sunday as the computer system that was controlling the height of the bar broke several times leading to a 40-minute delay. Luke said: "It was a big mess. That shouldn't happen at an Olympic Games."

When he eventually started vaulting, Cutts needed to either finish in the top 12 or clear 5.75m in qualifying to reach the final but, after going over at 5.3m and 5.45m, he failed his three attempts at 5.6 – a height he has already achieved this season. He finished 22nd out of 30. The eventual bronze medal height in Tuesday's final was 5.85, two centimetres clear of Cutts' British record.

He said: "My performance was good but the height was not as good as I expected. I changed poles in the middle of the competition and that can be hard to do. The pole I opened on was too soft."

Cutts has been heartened by the support he has received from his Team GB colleagues in Brazil as well as his friends and family in Thurnscoe. He said: "I think the whole village has added me on Facebook. I miss my family but I have got to cope with it. All the athletes here have been supportive and friendly, not like most athletes in other competitions who turn their back on you."

Cutts' coach Trevor Fox said: "Luke is disappointed not to have jumped 5.6m because he's been doing that in training quite easily. It might have been a bit of nerves. He seemed to do everything right in the approach but there were some inaccuracies at the top. It was disappointing but that's the way it goes sometimes.

"Pole vaulters have to run at ten metres per second, launch themselves on a five metre pole then do some gymnastics at the top. It's not easy, and mistakes do happen. It's a shame he didn't get to the final but it's been a fantastic experience for him. He will come away with great memories. Not many people from our area get to go to the Olympics, so it's historic."