• London 2012 - Swimming

Halsall bounces back with win in 50m freestyle heat

ESPN staff
August 3, 2012
Fran Halsall clocked 24.6 seconds © PA Photos
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Fran Halsall has qualified in style for the semi-finals of the women's 50 metres freestyle, leaving her on course to atone for her 100m freestyle near-miss on Thursday.

Halsall finished sixth in the 100m freestyle final and cut a dejected figure afterwards. Had she equalled her British record time of 52.87 seconds, she would have taken a gold.

However, one day later there was more positivity around her pool progress, as she touched first in her 50m heat in a time of 24.6s. Ominously, world champion Therese Alshammar won the heat before Halsall's.

"Hopefully I'll get a better start tonight and bring it down tonight," Halsall told the BBC. "I've only ever been quicker than that once before, and that was here [at the Aquatics Centre] in the trials. This is it now - I'm like, 'Right, I'm on it, splash and dash.'"

Britain's Amy Smith ended seventh in Halsall's heat, but won a swim-off to earn a place in the semis. The semi-finals take place later on Friday, with the final to come on Saturday.

Dan Fogg came second in his 1500m freestyle heat and said: "It is really hard having to wait all week but It is inspiring to see others, seeing Michael [Jamieson] win silver, it has given me so much energy that I didn't think I had."

Great Britain's men won their 4x100m medley heat to qualify for the final, and the women's team also progressed.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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