Little-known rule that saw distraught Team GB star get disqualified from Olympics despite winning race

A Team GB star was left 'gutted' after he was disqualified from the Olympics over a little-known rule.

Luke Greenbank was competing in the men's 200-metre backstroke event - which saw him win a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020.

But Greenbank suffered a devastating blow in Paris, when he discovered he'd actually been disqualified after breaking a rule.

And the moment was utterly heartbreaking for the athlete, as well as supporters watching at home who were left gutted for him.

Luke Greenbank was gutted after being disqualified (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

The Olympian soon realised what had happened when he looked up at the results board and saw that he'd been disqualified.

He put his head in his hands and dropped to the floor, with Australian swimming legend Ian Thorpe saying it was obvious just 'how devastated' the athlete was.

Speaking after the result came in, Greenbank said: "I don't know what to say, absolutely gutted.

"It's really annoying, I feel like I'm on good form."

Footage of the race showed that after the 15-metre mark, Greenbank was still under water.

It might not be a rule that most viewers at home are familiar with, but a swimmer must break the water and have part of them above the surface by the time they reach 15 metres, and they have to do this for each lap they take.

In a gutting twist, Greenbank had a time of 1:56:08, meaning he'd actually been the fastest of all competitors in the heats.

And viewers were gutted for him, with many taking to X to convey their disappointment.

One wrote: "Ugh, watching Luke Greenbank get disqualified in the Olympic semifinals is heart wrenching."

While another said: "Argh! That’s a nasty hit for us. Feel for Luke. One of the nicest people you would ever wish to meet!"

And a third added: "Nooooooo Luke Greenbank disqualified in the swimming heats. He swam an incredible heat from lane 1. Swam too far underwater."

The swimmer was beyond the red marker by the time he broke the surface of the water. (X/Claro Sports)

While a fourth said: "Oh no, Luke Greenbank of Great Britain just swam the fastest time of the morning in the 200 back but got DQ'd.

"He dropped to his knees on the pool deck when he saw it on the scoreboard. Brutal."

Although Greenbank was disqualified, fellow Brit Oliver Morgan, who came fifth in the same heat, made it through to the semi finals of the men's 200m backstroke.

The semi-final will take place on Wednesday evening (31 July).