Unfortunate rule that ended up disqualifying Team GB athlete from Olympics explained
Britt Jones
Featured Image Credit: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images/MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP via Getty Images
A Team GB swimmer who stormed to victory in the heats ended up absolutely heartbroken after being disqualified from the Olympics for breaking a key rule.
Having initially won the race, Luke Greenbank was left distraught when he found out he would be going home instead of progressing to the semi-final.
The 26-year-old had his Paris 2024 Olympics dreams crushed, even though he swam the fastest in the heats.
The poor soul was convinced that he had done enough to go through to the semi-finals, but was miffed when the sporting event results were revealed.
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He could be seen looking at the screen before putting his head in his hands, before collapsing to his knees as his chance at gold this year was dashed.
However, it wasn’t just him who was gutted.
A commentator on Discovery+ said: "I'm so devastated for him."
But rules are rules.
In this instance, the major rule he broke was standard practice.
It was the fact that you can’t have your head underwater beyond the 15-metre mark.
However, Greenbank’s head was under the water beyond the 15-metre mark after his final turn.
Speaking after the heart breaking moment, he said: "I don't know what to say, absolutely gutted.
"It's really annoying, I feel like I'm on good form."
The hopeful champion previously was part of the GB team that claimed silver in the 4x100m medley and also won bronze in the 200m backstroke at the Tokyo Games three years ago.
But it looks like this one rule has stopped his streak.
The commentator explained: "That hand as it comes up is so far beyond the 15 [metre mark].
"He knew because they know how many kicks they do underwater to get to the 15-metre mark.
"Wow, drama in Paris."
Drama indeed.
The unfortunate rules means that Greenbank will be flying home to the UK without a medal in sight.
But he wasn’t the only one to break rules in the swimming section.
Another swimmer was kicked out of the games after trying to leave the complex with her boyfriend without permission.
Brazilian swimmer Ana Carolina Vieira, and her partner and teammate Gabriel Santos, were found trying to leave the Olympic Village, after posting about it on their social media accounts.
Initially, they were given a warning about their behaviour, until Vieira was allegedly disrespectful and aggressive, whilst she opposed the decision.
As a result, she was sent back to Brazil, and her boyfriend was allowed to continue in the competition after a stern talking to.
But now she’s hit back on Instagram, stating that officials didn't give her a chance to get her things together before booking her flight back.
She said: "I left there and left my materials, I didn’t know what to do.
“My things are there [in the Olympic Village], I went to the airport in shorts.
"I had to open my suitcase at the airport.
“I am helpless, I have had no access to anything, I have not been able to speak to anyone."
At the moment, her case is being investigated by the CBDA.