The 24-year-old Loughborough swimmer returned to the pool 24 hours after reclaiming his world record from America's Randall Bal, and managed to lower it again by 0.04 seconds to 24.04.

 

 

In the process he became the first British man to make a dent in the medal standings this week after the women had already claimed six in the pool.

Tancock said: "[I'm] ecstatic.

 

"It's my third World Championships.

 

"To come away with a gold this time - I've always had bronzes in the past but a gold is fantastic.

 

"To be world champion in Rome is pretty fantastic."

Tancock rose in front and was never seriously threatened as he became world champion for the first time.

 

For Tancock it was his fourth World Championship medal after he took bronze in the same event on his senior international long-course debut in 2005.

 

He repeated that third-place finish two years later and also took a bronze over 100m.
 

His medal was the only one of the night for Britain who concluded the competition with seven medals in the pool, including two golds - as well as world titles in the women's 10km open water and 10m platform diving, courtesy of 15-year-old Tom Daley.

Tonight's session saw Hannah Miley finish fourth in the 400m individual medley with Thomas Haffield equal seventh in the men's race, while Fran Halsall was fifth in the 50m freestyle, David Davies came sixth in the 1,500m and the men's 4x100 medley relay were eighth.

While clearly enjoying being on top of the world, Exeter-born Tancock was also determined to use it to get on the podium over two lengths as the 50m backstroke is not currently scheduled to be part of the programme for the 2012 Olympics in London.

 

He said: "That is my aim, definitely.

 

"This is my bonus event.
 

"I picked up a medal this time, I just missed out on the 100m.

 

"I'm always practising for that.

 

"I stepped up my game from [the Olympics in] Beijing to here and I'm sure I'll do that in the future.

"I've just got to go back to the drawing board, do the right training back in Loughborough and enjoy myself."

 

Michael Phelps and the United States 4x100m medley relay team (pictured) closed the fastest meet in swimming history with an appropriate finish - the 43rd world record.

Phelps earned his fifth gold medal of a World Championships that showed he has still got plenty of motivation, even after winning a record eight times at the Beijing Olympics.

Swimming the butterfly leg, Phelps helped the US pull away from Germany and Australia to win in 3min  27.28sec.

 

That easily broke the mark of 3:29.34 set by the Americans at last summer's Olympics.
 

Phelps said: "That relay brings out the best in me.

 

"That's sort of what competing does.

 

"It doesn't matter how much energy I have, it's all going to go into every race.

 

"That's one of the things that I enjoy most - stepping out onto the blocks no matter what kind of shape I'm in."