Team GB star disqualified from Olympics despite winning race due to little-known rule
A Team GB swimmer has been disqualified from an event at the Olympic Games in Paris after breaking a little-known rule in the pool.
Luke Greenbank, 26, suffered heartbreak after being disqualified from his heat in the men's 200 metre backstroke, an event in which he won the bronze medal at the 2020 Games in Tokyo.
The Cumbrian looked like he had produced a strong opening performance in Paris to win heat four with a time of 1.56.08min.
But he was immediately disqualified after exiting the pool, with the British swimmer understandably shocked by the decision.
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Officials deemed that Greenbank had travelled more than 15m under water, the limit allowed in the competition, after the final turn of his race.
The rules of Olympic swimming state that a swimmer must break the water and have part of them above the surface by the time they reach the 15 metre mark.
This applies to both their initial dive into the pool and for each turn.
The 15-metre rule is in place for backstroke, butterfly and freestyle events but not breaststroke.
Replays showed that Greenbank had narrowly passed this mark before surfacing, resulting in his immediate disqualification.
After exiting the pool, Greenbank looked up at the screen to see the shock result on the screen in the arena.
When it was later confirmed, Greenbank was visibly distraught - collapsing to his knees.
Speaking to the media after the gut-wrenching moment, he said: "I don't know what to say, absolutely gutted.
"It's really annoying, I feel like I'm on good form."
Crewe-born Greenbank won bronze in the 200m backstroke at the Tokyo Games three years ago.
He was also a part of the Team GB team that claimed silver in the 4x100m medley at those Games.
His disqualification sours what had been an excellent Wednesday morning for Team GB, who claimed two more gold medals in Paris.
Alex Yee produced a remarkable comeback to win the men's triathlon, while Lauren Henry, Hannah Scott, Lola Anderson and Georgie Brayshaw won gold in the women's quad sculls final.
Rory O'Callaghan