Dolphins disaster: Australia bomb out in heats of mixed 4x100m freestyle relay
In a major shock, the 2023 world champions finished 11th overall in the heats – missing the final and leaving coaches stunned poolside.
The Dolphins were widely tipped to make the podium, if not win the event, having claimed gold in both the men's and women's 4x100m freestyle relays on night one of competition.
It also means Mollie O'Callaghan remains stuck on 11 career world championship gold medals – tied with Ian Thorpe for the most by an Australian – and will have to wait for another chance to surpass him.
Australia's heat team of Kai Taylor, Max Giuliani, Hannah Casey and Milla Jansen, with plans to bring in O'Callaghan and Kyle Chalmers for tonight's final.
But the quartet couldn't generate enough momentum in their morning swim, clocking 3:25.15 to finish outside the top eight.
Canada claimed the last spot in the final in a time of 3:24.94.
It was a sobering result for the Dolphins, who are the world record holders in the event after winning gold at the 2023 world championships in Fukuoka in a time of 3:18.83. Australia also won a world title in 2022.
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