Zimbabwean Kirsty Coventry took the silver medal in a time of 4:32.12, while Stephanie Rice won bronze 1.98 seconds behind Hosszu.

Ryan Lochte won the 400m individual medley to add to his 200 IM title and the two gold medals he won in the relays to take his personal gold tally to four.

Lochte's compatriot Scott Tyler Clary took second place in a time of 4:07.31, while Hungarian Lazlo Cseh won the bronze in 4:07.37.

Lochte said he suffered at the end. 'I thought the last 50 was the last 150 and it really hurt. I had a body length lead and I said to myself: 'Please don't blow this it hurts too much to lose this' and I gave everything I had at the end and thats all I could ask of myself.

Lochte said that he was saddened that Phelps was not swimming the medleys anymore. 'I wish Michael was there because he is a great swimmer and I love competing against him. Hopefully he will be there. I am trying to talk him into that but I am not sure if it will work.'

Lochte said he was glad that the week was over. 'It was really tough. My birthday is tomorrow, so I will definitely go and celebrate.'

Earlier in the final session of the championships, Tancock and Efimova opened the swims in the Foro Italico with two world records.

Tamcock, who already broke the world record to get into the final of the men's 50m backstroke, swam a 20.04 to take the gold medal from Japan's Junya Koga, who was 0.20 seconds slower.

South African Gerhard Zandberg was a surprise bronze medal winner in 24.34 seconds.

Tamcock swam four hundredths of a second faster than the world record he established on Saturday.

In the women's 50m breaststroke, Efimova proved too strong for the field as she won in a time of 30.09 to break Amanda Reason's world record time of 30.23.

American Rebecca Soni was second in a time of 30.11, while Australian Sarah Katsoulis took the bronze medal in a time of 30.16.

Phelps, who won five gold medals and one silver medal, was honoured at the end with the trophy for the men's swimmer scoring the most points, while Italian Federica Pellegrini won the women's award.

The US also won the award for the highest-scoring team.