The Commonwealth Games gold medallist Moss Burmester has missed out on making the 200 metres butterfly final at the world swimming championships in Rome.
Burmester had clocked a steady 1:56.03, similar to his heat time at the Beijing Olympics, where he finished fourth in the final, to qualify for the last 16.
But although head coach Jan Cameron was confident Burmester would go a lot faster, his 1: 55.35 was the 11th fastest semi-final time.
Japan's Takeshi Matsua was fastest in 1.53.35, with the American star Michael Phelps second in 1.53.48.
Earlier Glenn Snyders took 2/10ths of a second off his New Zealand record in the 50 metres breaststroke, but it wasn't enough to to qualify for the semi-finals.
He says he's looking forward to the 200 and has another chance to get the 100 right in the medley relay.
