Dervis Konuralp hopes of gold at the Paralympic Games in Beijing took a blow after failing to make the 100m butterfly final.

The 27-year-old from Dartford was competing in the first of three disciplines at the National Aquatics Centre on Sunday but finished agonisingly short of a final spot.

Konuralp, who is visually impaired, needed to finish in the top two of the heats to guarantee a place in the final but he finished third. He was only three tenths of a second short of qualifying as a fastest loser.

On Friday morning Konuralp swims in the heats of the 200m individual medlay and the following day he competes in the 100m butterfly heats.

The swimmer is competing in his fourth successive paralympics and has previously won bronze medals at both Sydney and Athens.