Melanie Nocher has won her heat in the women's 200m backstroke, setting a new Irish record in the process, but it was not enough to see her through to the semi-finals.
Nocher's time of 2:12.29 was quick enough to win the fourth heat, but was outside the slowest qualifying time, recorded by Gemma Spofforth of Britain in the third heat (2:10.58).
Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe broke the Olympic record in the fifth heat, with a time of 2:06.76, while Britain's Elizabeth Simmonds won the sixth heat, which saw five swimmers finish inside 2:10:00, with a time of 2:08.66.
Looking more comfortable in her shamrock cap after a goggles mishap attributed to the ill-fitting plain black hat she was forced to wear in the 100m, Nocher started very well.
She was second after the first turn, but took the lead half way through the second length, and didn't relinquish it for the rest of the race.
After a very quick opening 100m, she had looked likely to record a quicker time, but seemed to tire over the closing 20 metres.
