Australia's Olympic champion K4 crew have bombed out of the canoe sprint world championships in Moscow after failing in their semi-final on Friday night (AEST).
The London Games gold medallists struggled to fifth in windy conditions in a major shock for the K4 1000m event.
The quartet of Tate Smith, Murray Stewart, Dave Smith and Jake Clear had appeared finals certainties after finishing a close second behind Hungary in their morning heat.
But they have to wait another year to attempt to break their duck at world championship level.
The crew rolled the dice with a seat change before the event, with Dave Smith moving to the front and Tate Smith shifting back to No.2, but it backfired.
In better news for Australia's paddlers, Jo Brigden-Jones and Naomi Flood made the women's K2 500 final on Sunday.
Ken Wallace, the 2008 Olympic champion, will also paddle for gold in the K1 500 after winning his semi-final from the extreme outside lane.
On Saturday, Wallace will team up with Lachlan Tame in the K2 1000 final, while K4 crew member Stewart will aim to bounce back in the K1 1000 final.
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