Featured Image Credit: MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP via Getty Images/Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
Topics: Olympics, Sport, UK News, World News
Mia Williams
Topics: Olympics, Sport, UK News, World News
A Team GB swimmer has been disqualified from the Olympics, after he broke a little-known rule despite winning the race.
Luke Greenbank, 26, has had his Paris 2024 Olympics dreams crushed, after being disqualified due to an unfortunate rule.
After having swam the fastest in the heats, he was convinced that he had bagged himself a place in semi-finals, but was left devastated when the results of the sporting event were revealed.
He appeared to be looking up at the screen immediately after he presumed he had won, but shortly had his head in his hands.
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In fact, he collapsed to his knees, knowing that the dream of going for gold this year was officially off the cards.
Speaking after the heartbreaking moment, he said: "I don't know what to say, absolutely gutted.
"It's really annoying, I feel like I'm on good form."
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A commentator on Discovery+ added: "I'm so devastated for him."
The rule that meant his Olympic 2024 days were over, was having his head under the water beyond the 15-metre mark at the start.
Greenbank won bronze in the 200m backstroke at the Tokyo Games three years ago, and was also a part of the GB team that claimed silver in the 4x100m medley.
Reflecting on the moment, the commentator said: "That hand as it comes up is so far beyond the 15 [metre mark].
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"He knew because they know how many kicks they do underwater to get to the 15-metre mark.
"Wow, drama in Paris."
And the drama really has prevailed in Paris, after another swimmer was kicked out of the Olympic village - and the games altogether - after trying to leave the complex with her boyfriend without permission.
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Brazilian swimmer Ana Carolina Vieira, and her partner and teammate Gabriel Santos, were found trying to leave the Olympic Village, whilst posting it on their social media accounts.
After being given a warning about their behaviour, 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.
But she has now spoken out on Instagram, stating that officials didn't even give her a chance to get he things together.
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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."