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Robbins says she 'pushed too hard'

Australian rower Sally Robbins says she pushed herself too hard prior to the events of the Athens Olympics, and the now infamous 'lay down'.

Robbins was competing during the Athens Olympics with her team placing second when she suddenly collapsed and let go of her row.

Australia subsequently came last, with the media applying huge pressure on the incident and leaving the rower branded 'lay down Sally'.

Robbins - who failed to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Games - said today that the pressure was too much to handle during the Olympics.

"I've learnt that in my personality, I like to please others and I try to do things beyond my capabilities," Robbins said today.

"Outside of sport this is generally seen as a really good trait but in rowing, it's proven to be my weakness."

Robbins says she still doesn't know why she collapsed.

"I don't know, because the body has a funny way of actually coping with stressful situations," she said.

The rower has yet to decide if she will go forward and try for contention at the London 2012 Summer Games.