Five medals for Brits on opening day in Melbourne

The 20-year old – who is based in Australia – qualified fastest for the 50m Butterfly final before taking gold in a personal best 26.54 – just 0.3 seconds short of Fran Halsall’s British record.

Gandy underlined her impressive form with a personal best in the 800m Freestyle, touching in 8:47.43 to scoop bronze.

Jack Burnell added a silver medal for the British Gas GBR Swimming team in the 400m Freestyle.

The 18-year old clocked the third fastest time of his career to secure his prize, ultimately touching in 3:57.90.

Roberto Pavoni became the third British medallist in Melbourne, touching for bronze in the 200m Butterfly.

The 20-year old qualified fourth fastest for the final before cutting two seconds off his heat time to touch in 2:00.53.

Teenager Siobhan-Marie O’Connor was the final British medallist on the opening day, winning bronze in the 400m Individual Medley.

The British Gas ITC Bath swimmer – who made her World Championships debut at the age of 15 last year – finished in 4:50.31 for her medal.

Other notable British performances in Melbourne were a personal best 29.39 for Andrew Willis in the 50m Breaststroke and a fourth place for Kate Haywood (1:08.81) in the 100m Breaststroke.