Jazz Carlin won 800m Freestyle bronze to collect Great Britain’s ninth medal of the Kazan 2015 World Championships.
Having finished an agonising fourth in the 400m Freestyle earlier in the week, the European and Commonwealth champion went one better over twice the distance, claiming the first individual World medal of her career.
Carlin’s result takes the British Swimming team to a record medal haul at a World Championships, surpassing their previous best tally of eight medals from 1975 and 2003.
The Brit was made to fight every inch of the way for her podium place, ultimately holding off the attentions of Australia’s Jessica Ashwood by just 0.26 seconds as USA’s Katie Ledecky stormed to a world record and New Zealand’s Lauren Boyle claimed silver.
“This week really has been an emotional rollercoaster,” said Carlin, who also helped the British 4x200m Freestyle relay quartet to fifth in Russia.
“I had to pick myself up after finishing fourth at the start of the week. I was happy with my split in the relay so really it was just about coming in with my head down.
“Obviously I would have liked to finish higher and gone a bit quicker but I’m absolutely over the moon to come away with a bronze medal at the end of the week.”
Commonwealth champions Francesca Halsall and Ben Proud were also in finals on the penultimate night in Russia, finishing sixth and eighth respectively.
Bidding to become the first British female medallist in the 50m Butterfly, Halsall finished 0.48 seconds off the podium while Proud was 0.49 seconds shy of bronze in the 50m Freestyle final.
“You don’t go into a race hoping you come last but to be honest I’m just happy I was in that final,” said Proud, who finished 18th in this event on his World Championship debut two years ago.
“It was great experience. The noise before the start was immense. I’ve never seen anything like it or heard anything like it.
“I’m learning how to control my emotions. When I’m on the blocks I don’t think about who is around me but when I finish, I look across the pool and see these swimmers I’ve been looking up to for years. They are my idols so to be swimming against them in a World Championship final is a great feeling.”
Halsall, who was part of the gold medal-winning Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay quartet in Russia, will have another shot at a medal in tomorrow’s 50m Freestyle.
The 25-year-old will bid to improve on her bronze from two years ago after touching third in her heat to qualify seventh fastest for the final.
“It was a pretty decent semi-final swim for me,” said Halsall. “I’ll have a sleep-in tomorrow and then see what I’ve got for the final.
“In the 50m, as long as you’ve got a lane, anything can happen and hopefully I can drop down my time tomorrow night.”
Liam Tancock will also aim for a sprint medal on the final night in Kazan after making smooth progress from the semi-finals of the 50m Backstroke.
Tancock has never failed to make the 50m Backstroke podium at a World Championships, winning bronze in 2005 and 2007 before golds in 2009 and 2011.
And the 30-year old set his sights on another prize as he touched third in his heat and qualify fifth fastest overall.
“I’m in the final so I’ve got a chance and that’s what it’s all about,” said Tancock.
“I love this sport and it’s fantastic to be part of such a successful team and I’m looking forward to being in a final on the last day. Anything can happen.
“I’ve been doing it for 10 years now at this level but it’s keeping me young and keeping me fast and I’m swimming some of the best times I’ve ever done.”