Francesca Halsall
Encyclopedia
Francesca Jean Halsall is a British freestyle
and butterfly swimmer.
Halsall was the youngest member of the Team England swim squad at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne where she won silver medals in the 4×100 m freestyle and 4×100 m medley relays.
She was a member of the European Championships 4×100 m medley relay team that took gold in August 2006 and successfully defended their title in August 2008 in Eindhoven. Halsall won five medals at the 2010 European Championships in Budapest, 2 Golds, 2 Silvers and a Bronze and was a member of the 4x100m medley relay team that successfully defended their title for a second time. In winning five medals, she became the most successful British swimmer ever at a single championships.
At the Commonwealth Games in 2010
in New Delhi, India, Halsall won a gold medal, with a national record of 26.19 seconds, in the 50m butterfly, beating the favoured Australians. In the 100m freestyle Halsall was expected to win easily but a bout of illness (Delhi Belly) left her pale and weak and she had to be content with the bronze medal. Just 20 minutes later and despite being almost unable to stand up she returned for the 100m butterfly semi finals but failed to make the final. Later in the Games Halsall recovered enough to win 3 more silver medals in the women's 50m freestyle and as part of the 4 x 100 freestyle and medley relay teams.
in the 100 m freestyle behind Marleen Veldhuis
of the Netherlands
.
in the 100 m butterfly, 50 m freestyle, 100 m freestyle, 4×100 m freestyle
, 4×200 m freestyle
and 4×100 m medley
She reached the 100 m freestyle final and swam 54.29 where she finished eighth. She also swam a British record of 53.81 which helped the British quartet set a new national record of 3:38.18 in the 4×100 m freestyle.
Freestyle swimming
Freestyle is an unregulated swimming style used in swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. The front crawl stroke is almost universally used during a freestyle race, as this style is generally the fastest...
and butterfly swimmer.
Halsall was the youngest member of the Team England swim squad at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne where she won silver medals in the 4×100 m freestyle and 4×100 m medley relays.
She was a member of the European Championships 4×100 m medley relay team that took gold in August 2006 and successfully defended their title in August 2008 in Eindhoven. Halsall won five medals at the 2010 European Championships in Budapest, 2 Golds, 2 Silvers and a Bronze and was a member of the 4x100m medley relay team that successfully defended their title for a second time. In winning five medals, she became the most successful British swimmer ever at a single championships.
At the Commonwealth Games in 2010
2010 Commonwealth Games
The 2010 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XIX Commonwealth Games, were held in Delhi, India, from 3 to 14 October 2010. A total of 6,081 athletes from 71 Commonwealth nations and dependencies competed in 21 sports and 272 events, making it the largest Commonwealth Games till date...
in New Delhi, India, Halsall won a gold medal, with a national record of 26.19 seconds, in the 50m butterfly, beating the favoured Australians. In the 100m freestyle Halsall was expected to win easily but a bout of illness (Delhi Belly) left her pale and weak and she had to be content with the bronze medal. Just 20 minutes later and despite being almost unable to stand up she returned for the 100m butterfly semi finals but failed to make the final. Later in the Games Halsall recovered enough to win 3 more silver medals in the women's 50m freestyle and as part of the 4 x 100 freestyle and medley relay teams.
2008 FINA Short Course World Championships
Halsall won four medals at 2008 World Short Course Championships in Manchester, including 4×100 m freestyle bronze on her 18th birthday. She won the silver medalSilver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
in the 100 m freestyle behind Marleen Veldhuis
Marleen Veldhuis
Magdalena Johanna Maria Veldhuis is a professional swimmer from the Netherlands. She is world record holder in 4 events . Veldhuis has won 6 world championships gold medals and 20 European championships gold medals...
of the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
.
2008 Summer Olympics
Halsall represented Great Britain at the 2008 Summer OlympicsGreat Britain at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Great Britain competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. The United Kingdom was represented by the British Olympic Association , and the team of selected athletes was officially known as Team GB. Britain is one of only five NOCs to have competed in every Summer Olympic Games since 1896...
in the 100 m butterfly, 50 m freestyle, 100 m freestyle, 4×100 m freestyle
Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's 4 x 100 metre freestyle relay
The following new world and Olympic records were set during this competition.Also, in the final race of this event, Britta Steffen of Germany set a new women's 100 metre freestyle Olympic record of 53.38 as the lead-off swimmer for Germany...
, 4×200 m freestyle
Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay
The following new world and Olympic records were set during this competition.-Qualification summary:-Heats:-Final:...
and 4×100 m medley
Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's 4 x 100 metre medley relay
The following new world and Olympic records were set during this competition.- Qualification summary :- Heat 1 :- Heat 2 :- Final :* Q = Qualified, DSQ = Disqualified* WR = World Record, OR = Olympic Record...
She reached the 100 m freestyle final and swam 54.29 where she finished eighth. She also swam a British record of 53.81 which helped the British quartet set a new national record of 3:38.18 in the 4×100 m freestyle.
Personal bests and records held
| Event | Long course | Short course |
|---|---|---|
| 50 m freestyle | 24.11 (2009) NR | 23.44 (2009) NR |
| 100 m freestyle | 52.87 (2009) NR | 51.19 (2009) NR |
| 200 m freestyle | 1.59.13 (2008) | 1.53.89 (2010) NR |
| 100 m backstroke | 1.01.57 (2008) | 1:00.92 (2007) |
| 200 m backstroke | 2.19.02 (2005) | 2:17.43 (2007) |
| 50 m butterfly | 25.84 (2011) NR | 25.44 (2008) NR |
| 100 m butterfly | 57.40 (2010) NR | 55.71 (2009) NR |
| 100 m individual medley | 58.55 (2009)NR | |
| 200 m individual medley | 2.15.89 (2007) | |
| Record Key NR:British | ||