Worcestershire’s Matt Richards has claimed Great Britain’s first gold medal of the World Aquatics Championships.

The swimmer, from Droitwich, led a sensational British one-two in the men’s 200 metres freestyle final in Fukuoka, Japan, to become world champion.

The 20-year-old came on strong down the home stretch, leaping from third after 150 metres to clock one minute and 44.30 seconds and pip team-mate and Olympic champion Tom Dean, who also finished well.

Dean prevailed ahead of fellow Briton Duncan Scott at the Tokyo Olympics but settled for silver after finishing just two hundredths of a second behind Richards, despite being fifth on the final turn.

“I am pretty tired but over the moon, it was a stacked field,” Richards told BBC Sport. “It’s amazing to come away with the GB one-two again.”

"People thought Popovici was going to walk away with the gold so my coach and I had to plan our race and swim sensibly," he said.

"But some of those guys have very long arms so I knew I needed to get the finish right.

"It all comes down to not being afraid and trusting in your ability and the work you put in."

South Korea’s Hwang Sun-woo claimed bronze as Romania’s David Popovici, who was the overwhelming favourite to retain his title, finished fourth after fading badly in the final 50 metres.

Britain’s Medi Harris came seventh in the 100m backstroke final and Freya Anderson swam a personal best to qualify sixth-fastest for Wednesday’s 200m freestyle final, but Abbie Wood missed out on a place in the final.

Former world champion Karen Pickering said Richards and Dean swam the race “perfectly”.

Back in April, Richards beat fellow Olympic gold medallists Dean, James Guy and Duncan Scott to win a pulsating men’s 200 metres freestyle final at the British Swimming Championships.

The quartet had come together in Tokyo two years ago to memorably claim victory in the Olympic relay event.