Yannick Agnel could still get the opportunity to add to his collection of Olympic swimming gold medals in Rio despite a glaring error in qualifying at the French championships this week.

The 200m freestyle Olympic champion missed out on a place in the top two when he failed to hit the touchpad correctly in the final, with Jordan Pothain taking the runner-up spot behind Jeremy Stravius.

Agnel was under the impression he had finished second in Montpellier on Wednesday, but failed with an appeal against the decision as a jury at the event were not permitted to review television replays.

But it seems all is not lost for Agnel, who also won 4x100m relay gold in London four years ago, as he could still compete in the 200m freestyle in Brazil if he beats Pothain and betters his time before the Games.

French Swimming Federation (FFN) technical director Jacques Favre told L'Equipe: "We will try to find something for him to post a good time. We have to do it."