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Francesca HALSALL
Sport Swimming
NOC Great Britain   
GenderWomen
Born12 Apr 1990 in Southport, ENG
Height1.71 m
Weight 64 kg
 Human Interest 
Further Personal Information
Residence
Knutsford, ENG
General Interest
Injuries
She was forced to miss the 100m individual medley at the 2014 World Short Course Championships in Doha, Qatar, due to a shoulder injury. (bbc.co.uk, 05 Dec 2014)

She had a shoulder injury that hindered her preparation for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. (sportinglife.com, 07 Mar 2013)

She suffered stomach problems at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India. (francescahalsall.com, 08 Aug 2013)

She had ankle surgery in late 2010. (uk.eurosport.yahoo.com, 29 Dec 2011)
Sport Specific Information
Why this sport?
All her friends were taking lessons and she felt left out.
General Interest
Hero / Idol
British rower Steve Redgrave, British middle distance runner Kelly Holmes. (British Swimming, 19 Jul 2010)
Awards and honours
She was named The Sunday Times' Young Sportswoman of the Year in 2010. (swimming.org, 18 Feb 2013)

She was named Merseyside's Young Sports Personality of the Year for 2005. (Liverpool Echo, 07 Feb 2006)
Sport Specific Information
Training Regime
.
When and where did you begin this sport?
She took up swimming at age eight.
International Debut
Year
2006
Competing for
England
Tournament
Commonwealth Games
Location
Melbourne, VIC, AUS
Further Personal Information
Languages
English
General Interest
Nicknames
Franny-babes, Franny, Fran (British Swimming, 19 Jul 2010; Athlete, 31 Jul 2008)
Sporting philosophy / motto
"Train harder than anyone else, have a better diet than anyone else and you'll reach the top." (britishswimming.co.uk, 06 Apr 2008)
Other information
RETIREMENT
She retired from competitive swimming in January 2017. "I am very much looking forward to the next chapter of my life and the normality of eating and drinking what I want, the only time someone watches me pee is when I leave the door open by accident and the dog comes in, and experiencing the mythical bank holidays. I will miss my daily naps and choosing to do sets of backstroke while training outdoors just to get an even tan. It's time to close this chapter of my life and move on to the next. (bbc.co.uk, 16 Jan 2017)

TRAINING MOVE
After living and training at the National Centre in Loughborough for eight years, she moved to train at Liverpool Aquatics Centre after the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The move to Liverpool meant she was closer to partner Jon Wilkin who plays rugby league for St Helens. (liverpoolecho.co.uk, 05 Oct 2016)
Famous relatives
Her partner Jon Wilkin has played rugby league for English team St Helens. (theguardian.com, 30 May 2016)
Further Personal Information
Family
Partner Jon Wilkin

 Competition Highlights
Olympic Games
Rank Year Venue Event Result
4 2016 Rio de Janeiro, BRA 50m Freestyle 24.13
7 2016 Rio de Janeiro, BRA 4 x 100m Medley Relay  
6 2012 London, ENG 100m Freestyle 53.66
5 2012 London, ENG 50m Freestyle 24.47
5 2012 London, ENG 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:37.02
8 2012 London, ENG 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:59.46
Semifinal 2012 London, ENG 100m Butterfly 58.52
Heats 2008 Beijing, CHN 100m Butterfly 58.70
8 2008 Beijing, CHN 100m Freestyle 54.29
Semifinal 2008 Beijing, CHN 50m Freestyle 24.80
7 2008 Beijing, CHN 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:38.18
Heats 2008 Beijing, CHN 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay  
4 2008 Beijing, CHN 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:57.50
World Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
6 2015 Kazan, RUS 50m Butterfly 25.85
7 2015 Kazan, RUS 50m Freestyle 24.51
7 2015 Kazan, RUS 4 x 100m Medley Relay  DSQ
1 2015 Kazan, RUS 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:41.71
4 2013 Barcelona, ESP 50m Butterfly 25.70
3 2013 Barcelona, ESP 50m Freestyle 24.30
6 2013 Barcelona, ESP 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:58.67
4 2011 Shanghai, CHN 100m Freestyle 53.72
4 2011 Shanghai, CHN 50m Freestyle 24.60
6 2011 Shanghai, CHN 4 x 100m Medley Relay 4:01.09
Heat 2011 Shanghai, CHN 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay  
4 2009 Rome, ITA 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:57.03
2 2009 Rome, ITA 100m Freestyle 52.87
5 2009 Rome, ITA 50m Freestyle 24.11
7 2009 Rome, ITA 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:36.99
Semifinal 2007 Melbourne, VIC, AUS 50m Freestyle 25.32
4 2007 Melbourne, VIC, AUS 4 x 100m Medley Relay  
Semifinal 2007 Melbourne, VIC, AUS 100m Freestyle 54.85
5 2007 Melbourne, VIC, AUS 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:57.02
8 2007 Melbourne, VIC, AUS 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:40.94
World Championships Short Course
Rank Year Venue Event Result
  2014 Doha, QAT 50m Freestyle DNS
2 2014 Doha, QAT 4 x 50m Medley Relay 1:37.46
Heats 2012 Istanbul, TUR 100m Freestyle  DNS
2 2012 Istanbul, TUR 50m Freestyle 23.87
8 2012 Istanbul, TUR 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:38.23
4 2012 Istanbul, TUR 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:51.85
Semifinal 2008 Manchester, ENG 50m Butterfly 26.24
3 2008 Manchester, ENG 50m Freestyle 24.11
2 2008 Manchester, ENG 100m Freestyle 52.79
3 2008 Manchester, ENG 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:53.02
3 2008 Manchester, ENG 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:32.88
European Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
2 2016 London, ENG 50m Freestyle 24.44
3 2016 London, ENG 50m Butterfly 25.48
1 2016 London, ENG 50m Backstroke 27.57
1 2016 London, ENG 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:58.57
1 2016 London, ENG 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:44.56
3 2014 Berlin, GER 50m Butterfly 25.39
1 2014 Berlin, GER 50m Backstroke 27.81
1 2014 Berlin, GER 50m Freestyle 24.32
1 2014 Berlin, GER 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:44.02
3 2014 Berlin, GER 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:57.97
3 2010 Budapest, HUN 50m Freestyle 24.67 
2 2010 Budapest, HUN 100m Butterfly 57.40
1 2010 Budapest, HUN 100m Freestyle 53.58
2 2010 Budapest, HUN 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:38.57
1 2010 Budapest, HUN 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:59.72
1 2008 Eindhoven, NED 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:59.33
Semi Final 2006 Budapest, HUN 50m Freestyle 25.36
Heats 2006 Budapest, HUN 200m Freestyle 2:02.15
4 2006 Budapest, HUN 100m Freestyle 54.88
4 2006 Budapest, HUN 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:57.86
1 2006 Budapest, HUN 4 x 100m Medley Relay 4:02.24
5 2006 Budapest, HUN 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:41.44
European Championships Short Course
Rank Year Venue Event Result
Heats 2013 Herning, DEN 100m Individual Medley  DNS
5 2013 Herning, DEN 100m Freestyle 52.50
9 2013 Herning, DEN 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay 1:40.26
Heats 2013 Herning, DEN 50m Backstroke 27.63
4 2013 Herning, DEN 50m Freestyle 23.91
4 2013 Herning, DEN 4 x 50m Medley Relay 1:46.56
4 2013 Herning, DEN 4 x 50m Medley Relay 1:39.81
6 2006 Helsinki, FIN 100m Freestyle 53.85
4 2006 Helsinki, FIN 50m Freestyle 24.58
3 2006 Helsinki, FIN 4 x 50m Medley Relay 1:48.26
5 2006 Helsinki, FIN 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay 1:39.63
World Cup Short Course
Rank Year Venue Event Result
10 2014   Overall  
2 2014 Singapore, SGP 50m Backstroke 26.55
1 2014 Singapore, SGP 50m Freestyle 23.80
1 2014 Tokyo, JPN 50m Backstroke 26.42
1 2014 Tokyo, JPN 50m Freestyle 23.80
1 2014 Tokyo, JPN 100m Freestyle 51.96
2 2014 Tokyo, JPN 50m Butterfly 25.29
4 2013 Beijing, CHN 50m Butterfly 25.75
2 2013 Beijing, CHN 50m Freestyle 24.04
4 2013 Beijing, CHN 100m Freestyle 52.60
4 2013 Dubai, UAE 50m Freestyle 24.49
4 2013 Dubai, UAE 100m Freestyle 53.03
5 2013 Dubai, UAE 50m Butterfly 26.06
7 2013 Singapore, SGP 100m Butterfly 58.26
3 2013 Singapore, SGP 50m Freestyle 24.37
4 2013 Singapore, SGP 100m Freestyle 52.72
5 2013 Singapore, SGP 50m Butterfly 25.89
5 2013 Tokyo, JPN 50m Backstroke 27.00
4 2013 Tokyo, JPN 50m Freestyle 23.97
4 2013 Tokyo, JPN 50m Butterfly 25.59
5 2013 Tokyo, JPN 100m Freestyle 52.64
25 2011   Overall  
3 2011 Berlin, GER 50m Freestyle 24.17
2 2011 Berlin, GER 100m Butterfly 56.98
1 2011 Berlin, GER 100m Individual Medley 58.73
12 2009   Overall  
2 2009 Berlin, GER 100m Freestyle 52.07
3 2009 Berlin, GER 100m Individual Medley 59.03
3 2009 Singapore, SGP 200m Freestyle 1:54.84
2 2009 Singapore, SGP 100m Butterfly 56.91
1 2009 Singapore, SGP 100m Freestyle 51.19 AR
3 2009 Singapore, SGP 100m Individual Medley 58.55
3 2009 Stockholm, SWE 100m Individual Medley 58.81
1 2009 Stockholm, SWE 100m Freestyle 51.61 AR