He had been dubbed Australia's "Superman".
But bespectacled Mack Horton unfortunately performed like lookalike alter-ego Clark Kent in a shock world swimming championships start in Russia.
Horton will need to regain his powers when the 800m freestyle starts on Tuesday after a disastrous 400m effort on world titles debut in Kazan.
The 19-year-old sensationally missed Sunday night's 400m final (11th; three minutes, 47.37 seconds).
He was almost five seconds slower than his world No.1 ranking effort (3:42.84).
World No.3-ranked compatriot and Commonwealth Games silver medallist David McKeon (10th; 3:47.36) also missed the final.
Horton will try to regroup in the 800m, his other world No.1 ranked event.
He is also considered a major medal threat to defending champion Sun Yang of China in August 9's 1500m freestyle final.
"It's a long week ahead. I still have the 1500m and 800m," a shellshocked Horton said.
"I will just try to get back up for that and hope to be heaps better."
Clark Kent lookalike Horton had appeared in Australian papers tearing open his shirt to reveal a Superman suit ahead of the world titles.
But Australian head coach Jacco Verhaeren wondered where his hero had gone after Horton was reduced to mere mortal status in the 400m.
"At least one of those guys should have been there (in 400m final)," Verhaeren said of Horton and McKeon.
"You don't want to find an excuse in rookie nerves (for Horton) or anything else - conditions were perfect.
"At a world championships you have to step up, whether it's heats or finals, it doesn't matter."
Horton admitted he had learnt a harsh lesson.
"Being at my first major meet, I was aware of the pace (needed to make the final), but I guess I wasn't ready to swim that quick in the heat. It (pace) kind of caught me by surprise," Horton said.
"I saw everyone going and tried to go with them, but nothing really happened.
"I thought I would be close ... so it was pretty upsetting when I just missed out."
Horton and McKeon were less than two tenths of a second from the eighth and final qualifying position.
Horton had been seen as the man to break Australia's drought in the men's 400m, in which they haven't had a medal since Grant Hackett's 2007 silver.
The Australian men once dominated the 400m event, with Kieren Perkins, Ian Thorpe and Hackett winning five straight golds from 1994 to 2005.
McKeon had also stumbled at the 2013 worlds, missing out on the 400m final despite being the No.2 ranked swimmer.
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