The 21-year-old is currently at the University of Alabama but represented South Africa in his first-ever major Swimming World Championships. 

The Bloemfontein-born swimmer, now plying his trade at the University of Alabama, touched the wall first to stop the clock at a time of 24.43 after a burst in the final section of the race.  

Waddell's win saw him beat record holder, Russia's Kliment Kolesnikov, who eventually finished third, behind fellow Russian Evgeny Rylov. 

Zane Waddell's podium finish sees the end of a 12-year gold medal drought in the 50m Backstroke after it was last won by Gerhard Zandberg in the same event in Melbourne in 2007.

The Gold Medal win saw South Africa climb to 11th on the medals tally after the win. 

"All the emotion at the end of that race; it's nothing like you can describe. This was always been a dream of mine to be a world champion," Waddell said after the race.

"It's amazing to finally realise that dream and go out and achieve it. I knew it was going to be the closest race of my life.

"Huge respect to all the other seven competitors out there. It was just an amazing experience. I got my hand first on the wall, it just so happened to be me so it's amazing.

"It's a privilege and an honour to represent South Africa at such a high level. To be world champion, honestly, it hasn't hit me yet but it's an amazing feeling and I'm really glad to have got my hand onto the wall first," an excited Zane Waddell added.

@Samludidi - OFM Sport