Gerhard Zandberg saved the best for last on the final day of the Fina 13th World Championships.

The defending champion won bronze in the 50 backstroke improving his new continental mark from 24.68 to 23.34 seconds.

Liam Tancock of Great Britain won the event in another new world record time of 24.04, followed by Junya Koga of Japan with silver in 24.24.

"This is brilliant. I must say it was really burning from the halfway mark till the end. I am just so happy," said a smiling Zandberg.

At international swimming events, Zandberg said he always shares a room with Cameron van der Burgh.

"We always joke that our room will win the medals and this time around three of the four came out of our room. His (van der Burgh's) performances earlier this week really inspired me."

Zandberg said he is now heading back home for the short course championships in Pietermaritzburg next week.

"I really did not train very hard for the World Championships as after the Olympics I took a break. But I will now start to work hard again and will travel to Germany to train with my previous coach, Dirk Lange, to get into top shape again," said Zandberg.

Sadly, there were no other successes for the South African team on Sunday.

In the morning heats, Riaan Schoeman (13th in 4:15.50) and Chad le Clos (16th in 4:17.39) failed to qualify for the 400 individual medley and Jessica Pengelly (24th in 4:46.31) and Kathryn Meaklim (31st in 4;51.09) were way off the South African record of 4:37.11 in the 400 individual medley.

The South African 4x100 medley relay team consisting of George du Rand, Cameron van der Burgh, Lyndon Ferns and Graeme Moore smashed the South African and African record to 3:31.53, but it was just not good enough in a strong field finishing in the tenth place overall. The previous continental mark of 3:33.70 was held by Zandberg, Van der Burgh, Ferns and Darian Townsend set at the Beijing Olympics.

South Africa finished in 14th place on the medals table with one gold and three bronze medals, breaking 21 African records.

Over the last two years, all the world records in the distances between 50 to 800 metres have now been bettered by swimmers wearing the polyurethane swimsuits. This means 38 of the 40 world records have been achieved in fast suits, with the 1500m distance being the exception.