Luke Greenbank was disqualified after the swimming men's 200m Backstroke heat in Paris. Photo: Federico Pestellini / Panoramic / DPPI via AFP
By Alexander Darling, ABC news
British swimmer Luke Greenbank, who won bronze in the mens 200-metre backstroke in Tokyo, has been disqualified after winning his heat in Paris.
The Brit thought he was through to the semifinal of the 200m backstroke after finishing first in his heat on Wednesday night, only to have it agonisingly taken away from him.
Officials found Greenbank spent too long underwater after his final turn off the wall.
Under global rules, a swimmer is allowed to remain underwater for up to 15 metres before they must resurface and continue their strokes.
The Brit, who enjoyed a body-length lead at the turn, went beyond the 15-metre mark leading to his disqualification.
Greenbank's disqualification left him wide-eyed with disbelief and likely heartbreak.
"I'm speechless. I can't really say ... I have no words," he told Eurosport.
Lukas Maertens of Germany was declared the winner, who said post-race that he still had some energy left ahead of the semifinal Thursday morning.
"Reaching the final, that's the biggest thing for me. I don't care how it goes tonight," he said.
"If I don't make it, I don't care. I think I've already presented myself quite well."
- ABC