Fiona Doyle became Ireland's first medallist at a World University Games as she claimed silver in the 100 metres breaststroke in the Russian city of Kazan, taking over half a second off her national record in the process.

The 21-year-old from Limerick had qualified as fourth fastest qualifier to today’s final in a time of 1:08.43, short of her national record of 1:08.23.

Doyle swam the race of her life in the final, coming second to Russia’s Yuliya Efimova in a time of 1:07.66. Efimova, who won bronze in the 200 metres final at last year’s London Olympics, took gold in a time 1:05.66, the second fastest in the world this year.

A delighted Doyle, who is representing the University of Calgary, said: “I’m over the moon, this is what I came here to do and I can’t wait for the Worlds now.”

Doyle will face off against Efimova again at the Fina World Championships in Barcelona later this month, but before that she is back in the pool on Saturday in the heats of the 200 metres breaststroke , where she also holds the Irish national record.

Andrew Meegan continued his record-breaking form, setting a new national mark of 15:24.26 in coming seventh in the final of the 1,500 metres freestyle final, his third Irish record at the championships.

The Aer Lingus swimmer is in action in the heats of the 800 metres freestyle on Saturday.