Jazz Carlin produced a battling performance to seal 800m freestyle bronze and take Great Britain to a record medal tally at the World Championships in Kazan, Russia.
Carlin finished fourth in the 400m freestyle earlier in the week but wasn’t to be denied again as the European champion added a world medal to her collection for the first time.
The 24-year-old was pushed hard by Australia’s Jessica Ashwood and eventually pipped her to the wall by 0.26 seconds to take Britain’s medal haul to nine.
That is one more than the country’s previous best performances in 1975 and 2003 and Carlin says she was delighted to have made the podium.
“This week really has been an emotional rollercoaster,” Carlin told British Swimming.
“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.”
There were two more finals for Great Britain on the penultimate day of action in Russia with Ben Proud missing out on a podium spot by 0.49 seconds in the 50m freestyle final as he came in eighth.
“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.
“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.”
Elsewhere Fran Halsall went in the 50m butterfly final but also fell short as she touched 0.48 seconds behind the podium spots but has another shot at the podium tomorrow after qualifying for the 50m freestyle final.
Meanwhile Liam Tancock will look to add to his world medal collection when he lines up for the 50m backstroke final – an event he won in 2009 and 2011.
“I’m in the final so I’ve got a chance and that’s what it’s all about,” said Tancock.
© Sportsbeat 2015