The University of Loughborough swimmer, 21, recorded a time of 53.61sec to hand his team their first medal at the Rod Laver Arena.

 

Aaron Peirsol took gold with a new world record, one of three Americans who set new world records during a hectic day's action in Australia.

 

"That medal is my best yet," said a delighted Tancock.

 

"It's the most prestigious of events outside of an Olympics and means so much to me.

 

"To come away with a medal a year out from Beijing and in an Olympic event is just so exciting and I lowered my own British and Commonwealth record again tonight.

 

"The Americans had an amazing night with world records falling all over the place and to be part of the fastest ever swim in history is an amazing experience."

 

Britain have never had a 100m Backstroke medallist at a World Championships and history is something Tancock is pleased to have made while he looks to write new chapters over the next 18 months.

 

"It was the strongest field the world has ever seen and I'm up their on the podium making history as the first British swimmer which is something you dream about," he said.

 

"No-one has ever gone sub 53seconds before and to see that and be part of that is remarkable. It also meant so much to me to have my mum and dad watching in the stands.

 

"The last 50m was very tough but I've been working hard in training for that reason and I kept it together tonight.

 

"I just wanted to get out there from the start but the Americans were strong coming back."

 

Two years ago Tancock medalled in the non-Olympic 50m event but to make the step up to the longer sprint with such good effect is something he is excited about.

 

"There's definitely more to come from me," he explained.

 

"I'll add tonight's medal to the one I won in 2005 but it's an Olympic medal I'm targeting.

 

"I've stepped up from the 50m event and I've been training hard for the 100m.

 

"There's 16months left ahead of Beijing and still a lot more hard work that needs to be done but this medal shows we're getting there."

 

British Swimming came close to making it two medals in Melbourne when Edinburgh's Kirsty Balfour and Loughborough's Kate Haywood went in the final of the Women's 100m breaststroke which saw a championship Record fall.

 

Leisel Jones before a home crowd went 1min 05.72sec to take gold, Tara Kirk of the US took the silver in 1:06.34 while Anna Khlistunova of the Ukraine claimed the bronze in 1:07.27.

 

Balfour was fifth in 1:08.05 and Haywood was seventh in 1:08.55.

 

"It was a strong field out there and I put in one of my fastest ever swims but in this company it doesn't get you a medal," said Balfour.

 

"I'm slightly disappointed with the time and not to be on the podium but I'm looking to the 200m breaststroke now which is definitely my strongest event

 

"I didn't feel comfortable enough tonight and felt I rushed it too much but I'll put that right for my main event."

 

The event was swam before a raucous crowd with four world records as the catalyst and Australian golden girl Jones as the epicentre of their energy.

 

"It was deafening out there with the Aussie crowd all cheering for Leisel," said Haywood.

 

 "The noise was humbling when they called her name and you just can't measure the advantage a home crowd like that can give.

 

"To be honest, after the work I've missed through illness I'm happy with my performance.

 

"I was delighted, considering, to just make the final but to climb further up the rankings and to swim one of my fastest ever times shows there's more to come."

 

History was also made in the semi-finals of the women's 200m freestyle where the depth of the field demanded the fastest seven progressing to tomorrow's final all went quicker than the time it would have taken to win gold at the last World Championships.

 

And Britain's Caitlin McClatchey proved she was up to the task required with a strong swim to progress but team mate Mel Marshall, in the next lane over, slipped off the pace, despite a strong heat swim earlier in the day, and missed out.

 

McClatchey goes into tomorrow's final seventh fastest in 1:57.86 while Marshall's time of 1:59.14 saw her finish 11th overall.

 

McClatchey will face new world record holder Frederica Pellegrini who went 1:56.47 in her semi-final to set the new standard.

 

"I knew what I had to do to make the final but I didn't realise it was going to be as fast as that," explained the Loughborough swimmer. 

 

"It was always going to take a fast time but nearly every swimmer who qualified tonight did so in a time that would have won gold two years ago and that just shows how far the world has moved on.

 

"To be honest it helped me seeing Liam (Tancock) win a medal just moments before my race and that performance was in my mind over those last lengths as I aimed for the wall.

 

"It's going to take something special to medal with such a high-class field showing such great form but I'll relax tonight, take things easy tomorrow and make sure I'm at my best for the final."