set five world records, including two by 17-year-old backstroker Regan Smith.

A tumultuous few months ahead then, for the backstroker - and something he was not expecting.

Abbie Wood of National Centre Loughborough was on medal-winning form as she touched first to take gold in the Women's 400m Individual Medley and there was also gold for Luke Greenbank, the backstroker taking the 100m title in 50.88, to slash over a second off his old best.

Chinese backstroker Xu Jiayu was more animated than usual after he captured his fourth gold of the Games, winning the 200 in 1 minute, 53.99 seconds, then straddling the lane rope and raising his arms in the air in triumph before slamming his fists into the water.

As fans fumed over ticketing chaos and emergency services scrambled to douse a raging wildfire, Liu became the first female 50m backstroker to go below 27sec.

"Whenever it rains like this in Florida there's always lightning so we're not allowed to swim!" Backstroker Kathleen Dawson took the last 100m final place after a time tie with England's Lizzie Simmons - then winning their two-lengths swim-off.

The team also included backstroker Lauren Quigley (1:00.30), breaststroker Sophie Allen (1:07.82) and freestyler Fran Halsall (53.21), who had earlier won Britain's only swimming medal of the championships.

Year 7 backstroker Max Gardner was first to take to the podium, with a silver medal in the U13s 50 metre sprint in 40.69.

Like his fellow backstroker and Olympian Liam Tancock, Fox spent much time at the beach growing up.

Liam Tancock: Powerful backstroker from Exeter races over 50m and 100m.

After much deliberation, Confidential gives the gold medal for being the most ab-licious to backstroker, and boyfriend of fellow swimmer Meaghan Nay, Mitch Larkin, who is hard to miss in the pale blue trunks.

Kelly began her international career as a backstroker.