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Disappointment: Joanne Jackson
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Great Britain's women have failed to qualify for the final of 4x200 metres freestyle after finishing sixth in their heat and ninth overall at the Water Cube.
France proved victorious after posting the fastest time of seven minutes, 50.37 seconds, just 0.28s slower than the world record set by the United States at the 2007 World Championships.
The United States finished second ahead of Australia, with Britain's time of 7 minutes 56.16 secs leaving them half a second behind eighth-placed Japan.
The European silver medallists, whose team did not include Olympic 400m freestyle winner Rebecca Adlington, had held out hopes of medal success in the event.
Joanne Jackson, who took bronze behind Adlington on Monday, was included alongside Mel Marshall, Hannah Miley and Fran Halsall.
However, despite the disappointing result, performance director Michael Scott said they had not taken a gamble with team selection.
"Definitely not. It didn't work out on the night, I accept full responsibility as the performance director but if you look at the stats, the teams winning medals have rested one or two women," he said.
"We have the depth in the 4x200 free relay, it was not a gamble, it was a statistical-based decision that didn't work on the day.
"On paper those four girls as a team should have qualified. We're a strong team, we'll support them, obviously they're disappointed and the team is disappointed and we'll use this as a positive."
Beard out
Meanwhile, Athens Olympic 200 metre breaststroke champion Amanda Beard failed to qualify for the semi-finals after finishing 18th in qualifying.
The 26-year-old American stormed past reporters without speaking after finishing sixth in her heat in what is her fourth and most likely final Games.
Fellow American, Rebecca Soni posted the fastest time in the heats with a time of 2 minutes 22.17 seconds.
Australia's Leisel Jones, the World Champion and world record holder who won the 100 metres Tuesday, was second quickest followed by Austrian Mirna Jukic.
Britain's Kirsty Balfour, silver medallist in the World Championships last year, also failed to make the semi-finals after finishing 20th, more than five seconds off Soni's time.
However, British 200 metre backstroke record holder Gregor Tait qualified for the semi-finals of the men's event on Wednesday evening.
His time of 1 minute 57.03 seconds was just 0.36 seconds outside his British and Commonwealth record and qualified him in fifth place, behind joint world record holders Ryan Lochte and fellow American Aaron Peirsol.
Tait, who also flatly denied reports he was quitting the sport after the Games, is confident he can do better on Thursday.
"It was good today," he said. "That was my third fastest of all time and it felt pretty comfortable.
"You never know what's going to happen the next morning but at the minute I feel pretty good. I'm pleased with it. I smiled afterwards and thought that was alright."
