The race was won by French swimmer Leon Marchand, a “megastar” who broke the Olympic record.
RNZ host Nathan Rarere Rarere, who is in Paris, described Marchand as the “best to ever do it”.
“It’s tough. I don’t have too many words right now,” Clareburt said after the race.
“I’m disappointed in myself that I wasn’t able to put together a good time.
“I’m not sure, something just didn’t click today. That’s sport. You train your whole life for this one moment, and if you don’t get it right, that thing happens.
“I didn’t want to be in this position standing here, saying this right now, but someone has to lose and today it was me.”
Several New Zealand athletes had a tough time at the Olympics overnight.
Lulu Sun lost her first round singles match to Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk and her doubles match with Erin Routliffe was delayed again by rain.
Gymnast Georgia Rose-Brown missed out on the finals, Luuka Jones missed out on the medals in the kayak singles, and Sammie Maxwell finished 8th at the mountain biking.