The only British swimmer to qualify for three individual disciplines at London 2012 is known for her non-stop chatter. But, chasing five medals, Fran Halsall could soon be famous for what she does when her mouth closes
You’re racing in five events at the Olympics. Is there a chance you’re spreading yourself too thinly?
“Ever since the previous Olympics, I’ve done five events in every major international I’ve competed at – so it’s something I’ve had lots of practice in and I can do. The 100m freestyle is the event I’m best suited to, but I do the butterfly as well to get me into the week for my main freestyle events. And in training, if I’m not having a good freestyle session, I can do butterfly and still knock out a good session – so I go home happy. It works well for me having the different events to mix it up a bit and keep me entertained in training.”
What did you make of the Olympic Aquatics Centre when you raced there at the trials earlier this year?
“The first time I saw it, the screen wasn’t up at the end and the starting blocks weren’t in and it looked really long. I was like: ‘How am I gonna finish two lengths of that?’ [Laughs] But with all that in and it being dressed for the event, it looked really good. The first swim I walked out for, I was like: ‘This is it – this is where we’re gonna have the Olympics.’ It was all really bright and clean and airy, and it just gave me goosebumps. It was a perfect dress rehearsal for the Olympics, too, because the schedule was all the same. So I know exactly where I’ll need to be and when.”
You reached the 100m freestyle final in Beijing, which was your first Olympics. What did you take away from that experience?
“Beijing was all a whirl, to be honest. There were so many things to see, so many things to do and the whole experience of being in an Olympic final is totally different to any other competition final I’ve ever been in. There’s just something about an Olympics – it’s the most special one, so the atmosphere in a final is totally different. Having the experience of knowing what that feels like is really going to stand me in good stead.”
Had you gone there with any expectations of how you might do?
“I had the same expectations as I do for this Games. I wanted to get in and win my races. Every time I get in the pool and swim, I want to win. Sometimes it doesn’t happen, but as long as you think you can – and try to – it’s gonna pay off at some point. I came home from Beijing a little disappointed with my swims, but it was nice to have gone and had that first-time experience.”
How different are you as an athlete going into London compared with four years ago?
“I’m not as naive in my racing or what I need to do to be as good as I want to be, and I’ve got a lot more weapons in my armoury than I did as a little 18-year-old going into my first one. In one sense, Beijing feels like an age ago. But in another sense, I feel like these past four years have gone so fast. Sometimes I wonder if I will be able to do another four years to Rio? But then I think these past four years have flown by, so I think I will do another one.”
And you’re still only 22 years old…
“I know, but I’m like one of the veterans on the team now – it’s crazy. I’m the one planning the team initiations. [Laughs] I was only 15 when I went to the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, though, so it feels like I’ve been competing internationally for a long time.”
Sarah Shephard@sarahsportmag
SEE HER IN
50m freestyle,
100m freestyle,
100m butterfly,
4x100m freestyle relay,
4x200m freestyle relay
WHEN
From July 28 (100m butterfly heats) to August 4 (50m freestyle final)
CHANCES
Halsall says her main hope is for gold in the 100m freestyle, where she’s ranked three in the world – but she could also challenge over the single-length 50m, in which she’s second in the world. World record holder over both distances (and double Olympic gold-medallist) is Germany’s Britta Steffen, who bombed out at the worlds in Shanghai last year, but looks to be back on track in 2012. Halsall could also face competition from veteran Swedish sprinter Therese Alshammar, now 34, who won 50m freestyle gold in Shanghai last summer