PLYMOUTH Leander’s Reece Dunn set a new European record as he won a silver medal in the 200m individual medley at the World Para-Swimming Championships in London.

It took a world record from Japan’s Dai Tokairin to prevent Dunn from securing his third gold medal of the championships in the men’s S14 category.

The 23-year-old Plymothian, who had already won gold in the 200m freestyle and 4x100m freestyle relay, started strongly and was leading after the butterfly and backstroke legs, however the rest of the field closed in after the breaststroke leg, with a sprint freestyle finish determining the medals.

Tokairin just took the gold in a new world record time of 2:08.16, with Dunn winning the silver medal in 2:08.70, which was inside the old world record time, and Ukraine’s Vasyl Krainy picking up bronze in 2:10.42.

Despite missing out on the gold, Dunn was pleased with his performance.

He said: “I’m very pleased. Okay, I’m a little disappointed that I was pipped for first but I’m happy, especially with getting the new European record.

“It’s my weakest event and probably only the second meet in 10 years I’ve raced it – the first being in April to secure my qualification.

“I can go away from here with plenty of things to work on, especially my breaststroke technique for the 200m IM, but overall I’ve enjoyed myself at my first major international meet and in terms of results I couldn’t be more pleased.”

Dunn will be hoping for more success on Sunday when he competes in the 100m butterfly event.