Reigning Olympic champion Mack Horton was the major casualty on Day 1 of the Australian Olympic team swimming trials as he fell just short of qualifying in a scintillating 400-meter freestyle final.
Horton, who is widely known also for his strong anti-doping stance, was edged out on a night of high drama and quality in Adelaide.
The 25-year-old missed the top-two finish that would have allowed him to defend his title in Tokyo next month by just 0.65 seconds as young gun Elijah Winnington, 21, swam the fastest time in the world this year in 3:42.65 with Jack McLoughlin in second place. The first three men swam the fastest three 400 freestyle times in the world this year.