Halsall now hoping to help inspire new generation to make a splash

The Loughborough swimmer recalls that home success at the Manchester 2002 Games was inspiring for her.

“I remember watching because the English team had full red swimming costumes to race in and I was like ‘that’s so cool, I want one of those suits’,” said Halsall.

“And because we did so well it was really enjoyable to watch.

“I was 12 at the time, I was like ‘I want to be part of the team. I want to be doing that’.

“Hopefully, everybody who watches this, younger swimmers, will have the same experience I did watching 2002.”

Four years later, Halsall was in the Commonwealth Games herself.

The 24-year-old from Southport added: “Melbourne was amazing. It was one of the best experiences of my life.

“Fifteen, flying out to Australia for three weeks on the Gold Coast on a holding camp, two weeks in Melbourne in the Commonwealth Village, then afterwards going to see the other sports, sightseeing. I came home with two medals from the relays. I was like ‘this swimming thing is amazing’. That was my first experience of the senior team. It was incredible and still today is one of my favourites.

“Four years later (in Delhi) I was in a totally different position.

“I’d won medals at Europeans, medals at World Championships, so going into the Commonwealths it was kind of like ‘okay, what can I do? I’ve got a lot of events, I want to be on the podium in most of those events’.

“It was a totally different switch of situation. I embraced that, but it was hard at the same time. I got a bit ill while I was there and it was a bit of a difficult situation to be in, but coming home with five medals (gold in the non-Olympic 50m butterfly, three silvers and a bronze) you’ve got to be happy with that.”