British swimmer Luke Greenbank skilled gutting information after ending first within the males’s 200-meter backstroke heats with a time of 1:56, solely to seek out out his Paris Olympics journey had come to an sudden finish resulting from a disqualification.
The 26-year-old was disqualified for a lesser-known rule in the course of the 200-meter backstroke occasion on July 31—swimming past the allowed 15 meters underwater initially of the race.
Luke’s expression shortly turned to one in every of devastation as he regarded on the scoreboard, put his fingers to his head in misery, and dropped to his knees.
After the information broke, Luke spoke to reporters in regards to the upsetting disqualification.
“I don’t know what to say, completely gutted,” he stated. “It’s actually annoying. I really feel like I’m on good kind.”
In line with World Aquatics, aggressive swimming’s worldwide governing physique, swimmers collaborating within the backstroke can’t be absolutely submerged greater than 15 meters after beginning the race or finishing a flip.
“By that time, the top should have damaged the floor,” the principles state. There are pink buoys alongside every swimming lane to mark the 15-meter level, and though it’s not a standard rule identified by the general public, it’s well-known amongst swimmers. The 15-meter rule is utilized in backstroke, butterfly, and freestyle occasions however not in breaststroke.
Luke received the bronze medal within the 200-meter backstroke on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He was additionally a part of Workforce GB, which received the silver medal within the 4×100-meter medley. His teammate Ollie Morgan progressed into the semi-finals.
The British athlete isn’t the primary swimmer to have their Olympic journey minimize quick. Brazilian swimmer Ana Carolina Vieira was despatched house after being caught leaving the Olympic Village with one other teammate, Gabriel Santos, after the opening ceremony on July 26.
The Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) punished the 2 athletes, however issues took an much more critical flip for Ana resulting from her response to the committee.
After being reprimanded, Ana reacted to the “technical choice” made by the committee in a “disrespectful and aggressive” method, based on the COB’s press launch. Consequently, she was despatched house.
“Gabriel Santos was punished with a warning and athlete Ana Carolina Vieira, with the penalty of dismissal from the delegation,” the press launch concluded. “She is going to return to Brazil instantly.”
