Controversial ruling that sees British swimmer disqualified despite winning heat

Team GB swimming star Luke Greenbank's Olympic 200m backstroke dream is over after he was disqualified following victory in his heat in Paris.

Greenbank looked to have sealed a spot in the semi-finals of the event at La Defense Arena but was left distraught after being caught out by a little-known rule.

The double Olympic medallist clocked a time of 1min 56sec, qualifying more than a second ahead of favourite Hubert Kos of Hungary.

But joy quickly turned to despair for the 26-year-old as footage showed Greenbank had swam too far underwater at the start of the race.

According to a World Aquatics rule, which has been in place since 1988, athletes are not allowed to go beyond the 15-metre mark while still underwater. By that point the head must have broken the surface.

Greenbank looked up at the TV screens inside the arena and soon realised he would be axed from the event. The British athlete, bronze medallist in the event in Tokyo three years ago, then slumped to the floor in despair.

'I don't know what to say, absolutely gutted,' he said after the race. 'It's really annoying, I feel like I'm on good form.'

The full rule states: 'Some part of the swimmer must break the surface of the water throughout the race.

'It is permissible for the swimmer to be completely sub-merged during the turn, at the finish and for a distance of not more than 15 metres after the start and each turn.

'By that point the head must have broken the surface.'

His team-mate Ollie Morgan had no such trouble as he progressed into the semi-finals. 

Greenbank also took silver in the 4x100m medley at Tokyo 2020 and is a former world champion in the event.

The incident was a blip on an otherwise stunning day for Team GB, who won gold in the women's quad sculls and men's triathlon in quick succession on Wednesday.

Britain claimed their first gold in the pool in the French capital on Tuesday night as the team of James Guy, Tom Dean, Matt Richards and Duncan Scott successfully defended their Olympic 4x200m freestyle relay title.