The 19-year-old from Bromley stuck to her race plan despite turning sixth after the opening 50m and gradually moved through the field to touch in a season's best of 2min 05.59sec, adding her medal to the silver won by compatriot Rebecca Adlington earlier in the event.

China's Olympic silver medallist Jiao Liuyang claimed victory just ahead of Gandy in 2:05.55, while Olympic champion Liu Zige took bronze in 2:05.90, with the British star admitting she did not know how close she came to victory.

"I was solely focused on my own swim," said Gandy, who finished fifth in the 100m butterfly final earlier in the week.

"I didn't know where she [Jiao] was and I was just gunning it to the wall.

"It's an incredible feeling.

"I really didn't think I would be here at the start of the day.

"I'm so happy - it's just an amazing feeling to have a World Championship medal.

"It's been a really tough week but really good racing and preparation for next year."

Britain now has a total of three medals from the World Aquatics Championships because as well as the silver medals won by in the pool at the Shanghai Oriental Sports Centre, Keri-Ann Payne claimed gold in the open water event just over a week ago to become the first British athlete to qualify for London 2012 Olympics.


Elsewhere, double Commonwealth champion James Goddard finished fourth in the 200m individual medley in a star-studded line-up that saw 14-time Olympic champion Michael Phelps of the United States in action.

However, Phelps, the Olympic champion in the event, was upstaged by compatriot Ryan Lochte who broke his own world record to win gold in 1:54.00.

Phelps picked up silver in 1:54.16, meaning he now has a gold, silver and bronze from the event, while Hungary's European champion László Cseh won bronze in 1:57.69 to edge out Goddard in a desperate sprint to the wall.

"I hate coming fourth," said the 28-year old from Stockport.

"It's likely to be my last World Championships so to come so close to a medal is gutting.

"I knew I had a chance of the bronze but that the first two medals were taken and that world record swim from Ryan confirmed that.

"My freestyle needed to be better as that's where this event is won and lost but I've been held back by an old shoulder issue.

"I'll take this season, work harder and use it for London."

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