Aussie outsiders claim bronze medal in men's 4x200m freestyle final in Paris

Australia has powered to a bronze medal in the men's 4x200m freestyle relay in Paris.

Starting from lane six, the Aussies were represented by Maximilian Giuliani, Flynn Southam, Elijah Winnington, and Thomas Neill.

Giuliani touched the wall fourth on the first leg, before Southam powered on the second leg to get the team into the lead briefly but also touched the wall fourth.

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Winnington - backing up from his 800m freestyle final less than an hour earlier - got the Aussies into third position on his third leg, before Neill looked like nabbing silver but ultimately finished third behind America (silver) and Great Britain (gold).

"To our Aussie men, what a relay," swim great Giaan Rooney said on Nine.

"Once again we said, on paper, they shouldn't be in medal contention, and they have smashed that expectation."

Pool legend Ian Thorpe was over the moon with the result.

"I thought at one stage that was going to silver," Thorpe said.

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"They are going to be so over the moon with the bronze medal in this race. The men have over-performed in this, they can be very proud of themselves.

"The Australians will be celebrating that performance tonight."

Great Britain became the first relay swim team in history to defend an Olympic gold with the same identical line-up.