Cumbrian swimmer Luke Greenbank has launched his bid for success at the World Short Course Swimming Championships under way in Australia.

The Cockermouth star made it safely through his heat in the men's 100m backstroke in Melbourne.

But he was unable to make it through the semi-finals - and will now turn his attention to the 200m.

Greenbank came third in heat four behind the USA's Ryan Murphy and German's Ole Braunschweig.

A time of 50.72 saw the Cumbrian into the semi-finals as 13th fastest in qualifying.

The 25-year-old, though, finished eighth in his semi in a time of 50.81 as Murphy again led the way.

It denied the former Cockermouth School boy a place in Wednesday's final, but he will compete again in the men's 200m backstroke, where the heats get under way on Sunday.

Greenbank is part of an 11-strong Team GB squad for the competition Down Under.

Speaking ahead of the championships, Team GB performance director Chris Spice said: “These World Short Course Championships are a great opportunity for the group to get back into top-level racing early in the season, while also acting as a stepping stone for our ultimate 2023 target of the World Championships in Fukuoka next summer."