View source for Fran Halsall

{{Short description|British swimmer (born 1990)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2013}}
{{Infobox swimmer
| name           = Francesca Halsall
| image          = Fran Halsall medal.jpg
| image_size     = 220
| alt            = 
| caption        = Halsall with 100 m freestyle silver medal at 2009 world championships
| full_name      = Francesca Jean Halsall
| nicknames      = "Fran"
| national_team  = {{GBR2}}
| birth_date     = {{Birth date and age|1990|04|12|df=y}}
| birth_place    = [[Southport]], England
| death_date     = 
| death_place    = 
| height         = 1.71 m
| weight         = 59&nbsp;kg
<!-- Infobox swimmer does not support the following parameter:
| partner        = Jon Wilkin 
-->
| website        = {{URL|www.francescahalsall.com|FrancescaHalsall.com}}
| strokes        = [[Freestyle swimming|Freestyle]], [[butterfly stroke|butterfly]]
| club           = Loughborough University
| collegeteam    = 
| coach          = James Gibson
| medaltemplates = 
{{MedalCount
| [[World Aquatics Championships|World Championships (LC)]] | 2 | 1 | 1
| [[FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)|World Championships (SC)]] | 0 | 3 | 3
| [[LEN European Aquatics Championships|European Championships]] | 10 | 3 | 4
| [[Commonwealth Games]] | 3 | 7 | 1
| '''Total''' | '''15''' | '''14''' | '''9'''
}}
{{MedalSport | Women's swimming }}
{{Medal|Country | {{GBR2}} }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[FINA World Aquatics Championships|World Championships (LC)]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[2015 World Aquatics Championships|2015 Kazan]] | [[Swimming at the 2015 World Aquatics Championships – 4 × 100 metre mixed medley relay|4×100 m mixed medley]] }}
{{MedalSilver | [[Swimming at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships|2009 Rome]] | [[Swimming at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships – Women's 100 metre freestyle|100 m freestyle]] }}
{{MedalBronze | [[Swimming at the 2013 World Aquatics Championships|2013 Barcelona]] | [[Swimming at the 2013 World Aquatics Championships – Women's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]] }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)|World Championships (SC)]] }}
{{MedalSilver | {{nowrap|[[2008 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)|2008 Manchester]]}} | 100 m freestyle }}
{{MedalSilver | [[2012 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)|2012 Istanbul]] | [[2012 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) – Women's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]] }}
{{MedalSilver | [[2014 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)|2014 Doha]] | [[2014 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) – 4 × 50 metre mixed medley relay|4×50 m medley]] }}
{{MedalBronze | 2008 Manchester | 50 m freestyle }}
{{MedalBronze | 2008 Manchester | 4×100 m freestyle }}
{{MedalBronze | 2008 Manchester | 4×100 m medley }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[LEN European Aquatics Championships|European Championships (LC)]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[2006 European Aquatics Championships|2006 Budapest]] | 4×100 m medley }}
{{MedalGold | [[2008 European Aquatics Championships|2008 Eindhoven]] | 4×100 m medley }}
{{MedalGold | [[2010 European Aquatics Championships|2010 Budapest]] | 100 m freestyle }}
{{MedalGold | 2010 Budapest | 4×100 m medley }}
{{MedalGold | [[2014 European Aquatics Championships|2014 Berlin]] | [[Swimming at the 2014 European Aquatics Championships – Women's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]] }}
{{MedalGold | 2014 Berlin | [[Swimming at the 2014 European Aquatics Championships – Women's 50 metre backstroke|50 m backstroke]] }}
{{MedalGold | 2014 Berlin | [[Swimming at the 2014 European Aquatics Championships – Mixed 4 x 100 metre medley relay|4×100 m mixed medley]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[2016 European Aquatics Championships|2016 London]] | [[Swimming at the 2016 European Aquatics Championships – Women's 50 metre backstroke|50 m backstroke]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[2016 European Aquatics Championships|2016 London]] | [[Swimming at the 2016 European Aquatics Championships – Women's 4 x 100 metre medley relay|4×100 m medley]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[2016 European Aquatics Championships|2016 London]] | [[Swimming at the 2016 European Aquatics Championships – Mixed 4 x 100 metre medley relay|4×100 m mixed medley]] }}
{{MedalSilver | 2010 Budapest | 100 m butterfly }}
{{MedalSilver | 2010 Budapest | 4×100 m freestyle }}
{{MedalSilver | [[2016 European Aquatics Championships|2016 London]] | [[Swimming at the 2016 European Aquatics Championships – Women's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]] }}
{{MedalBronze | 2010 Budapest | 50 m freestyle }}
{{MedalBronze | 2014 Berlin | [[Swimming at the 2014 European Aquatics Championships – Women's 50 metre butterfly|50 m butterfly]] }}
{{MedalBronze | 2014 Berlin | [[Swimming at the 2014 European Aquatics Championships – Women's 4 x 100 metre medley relay|4×100 m medley]] }}
{{MedalBronze | 2016 London | [[Swimming at the 2016 European Aquatics Championships – Women's 50 metre butterfly|50&nbsp;m butterfly]] }}
{{Medal|Country | {{ENG}} }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Swimming at the Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[Swimming at the 2010 Commonwealth Games|2010 Delhi]] | [[Swimming at the 2010 Commonwealth Games – Women's 50 metre butterfly|50 m butterfly]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[Swimming at the 2014 Commonwealth Games|2014 Glasgow]] | [[Swimming at the 2014 Commonwealth Games – Women's 50 metre butterfly|50 m butterfly]] }}
{{MedalGold | 2014 Glasgow | [[Swimming at the 2014 Commonwealth Games – Women's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]] }}
{{MedalSilver | [[Swimming at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|2006 Melbourne]] | [[Swimming at the 2006 Commonwealth Games – Women's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay|4×100 m freestyle]] }}
{{MedalSilver | 2006 Melbourne | [[Swimming at the 2006 Commonwealth Games – Women's 4 × 100 metre medley relay|4×100 m medley]] }}
{{MedalSilver | 2010 Delhi | [[Swimming at the 2010 Commonwealth Games – Women's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]] }}
{{MedalSilver | 2010 Delhi | [[Swimming at the 2010 Commonwealth Games – Women's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay|4×100 m freestyle]] }}
{{MedalSilver | 2010 Delhi | [[Swimming at the 2010 Commonwealth Games – Women's 4 × 100 metre medley relay|4×100 m medley]] }}
{{MedalSilver | 2014 Glasgow | [[Swimming at the 2014 Commonwealth Games – Women's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay|4×100 m freestyle]] }}
{{MedalSilver | 2014 Glasgow | [[Swimming at the 2014 Commonwealth Games – Women's 4 × 100 metre medley relay|4×100 m medley]] }}
{{MedalBronze | 2010 Delhi | [[Swimming at the 2010 Commonwealth Games – Women's 100 metre freestyle|100 m freestyle]] }}
| module = {{infobox person
| embed = yes
| father = 
| mother = 
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Jon Wilkin]]|2018}}
}}
}}

'''Francesca Jean Halsall''' (born 12 April 1990) is a retired English competitive [[swimming (sport)|swimmer]] who has represented Great Britain at the Olympics, FINA world championships, and European championships, and England at the Commonwealth Games.  She competed primarily in [[freestyle swimming|freestyle]] and [[butterfly stroke|butterfly]] events.

Halsall was the youngest member of the Team England swim squad at the [[2006 Commonwealth Games]] in Melbourne, where she won silver medals in the 4×100-metre freestyle and 4×100-metre medley relays.

She was a member of the European Aquatics Championships 4×100-metre 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 4x100-metre 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 [[2010 Commonwealth Games]] in New Delhi, India, Halsall won a gold medal, with a national record of 26.19 seconds, in the 50-metre butterfly, beating the favoured Australians. In the 100-metre 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 100-metre 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 50-metre freestyle and as part of the 4x100-metre freestyle and 4x100-metre medley relay teams.

==Personal life==
Halsall was born in [[Southport]] and attended [[St Mary's College, Crosby]].<ref name="StMarys Gold for Fran" />

In July 2017, Halsall was made an [[Honorary doctorate|Honorary Doctor of Science]] (HonDSc) by [[Edge Hill University]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Saunders |first1=Lawrence |title=Edge Hill University announces honorary degree recipients – Your Move Magazine |url=https://ymliverpool.com/edge-hill-honorary-degree-recipients/27397 |website=YM Liverpool |access-date=26 January 2024 |date=4 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Honorary awards |url=https://www.edgehill.ac.uk/graduation/honorary-awards/ |website=Edge Hill University |access-date=26 January 2024}}</ref>

In 2018, Halsall married rugby league star [[Jon Wilkin]].

==Swimming career==
===2008 FINA Short Course World Championships===
Halsall won four medals at 2008 World Short Course Championships in [[Manchester]], including 4×100&nbsp;m freestyle bronze on her 18th birthday. She won the [[silver medal]] in the 100&nbsp;m freestyle behind [[Marleen Veldhuis]] of the [[Netherlands]].

===2008 Summer Olympics===
Halsall represented [[Great Britain at the 2008 Summer Olympics]] in the [[Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's 100 metre butterfly|100&nbsp;m butterfly]], [[Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's 50 metre freestyle|50&nbsp;m freestyle]], [[Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's 100 metre freestyle|100&nbsp;m freestyle]], [[Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay|4×100&nbsp;m freestyle]], [[Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 200 metre freestyle relay|4×200&nbsp;m freestyle]] and [[Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 100 metre medley relay|4×100&nbsp;m medley]]

In the 100&nbsp;m freestyle final, she placed 8th, at 54.29. She 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&nbsp;m freestyle.

===2009 FINA Long Course World Championships===
Halsall competed in 4 events at the 2009 world championships in Rome. She set a championship record for the 100m freestyle in the lead-off leg during the heats, and in the finals swam the lead leg, with Great Britain placing 7th. Halsall placed 5th in the 50m freestyle in a national record of 24.11. In the 100m, she out-touched Lisbeth Trickett of Australia to take silver in a national record of 52.87, with Germany's Britta Steffen winning in a new world record of 52.07. Halsall anchored the 4x100 metre medley relay to 5th place.

===2012 Summer Olympics===
{{see also|Swimming at the 2012 Summer Olympics}}
At the 2012 Summer Olympics in [[London]], Halsall competed in five events.<ref>{{cite news |title=Francesca Halsall – Swimming – Olympic Athlete |url=http://www.london2012.com/athlete/halsall-francesca-1098544/ |work=London 2012 Olympics |publisher=[[London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games]] |date=10 August 2012 |access-date=18 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120911234520/http://www.london2012.com/athlete/halsall-francesca-1098544/ |archive-date=11 September 2012}}</ref> Halsall reached the semi-finals of [[Swimming at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 100 metre butterfly|100m butterfly]], posting a time of 58.52,<ref>{{cite news |title=Women's 100 Butterfly – Olympic Swimming |url=http://www.london2012.com/swimming/event/women-100m-butterfly/phase=sww021200/index.html |work=London 2012 Olympics |publisher=London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games |date=10 August 2012 |access-date=18 September 2012 |archive-date=2 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130402155643/http://www.london2012.com/swimming/event/women-100m-butterfly/phase=sww021200/index.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> well off her season's best of 57.56 set in March.<ref>{{cite news |title=SwimNews Rankings |url=http://swimnews.com/rank/index |publisher=swimnews.com |date=18 September 2012 |access-date=18 September 2012}}</ref> Halsall made the finals of the [[Swimming at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 100 metre freestyle|100m freestyle]] and [[Swimming at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 50 metre freestyle|50m freestyle]], finishing 6th and 5th respectively.<ref>{{cite news |title=Women's 50m Freestyle – Olympic Swimming |url=http://www.london2012.com/swimming/event/women-50m-freestyle/index.html |work=London 2012 Olympics |publisher=London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games |date=4 August 2012 |access-date=18 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822143609/http://www.london2012.com/swimming/event/women-50m-freestyle/index.html |archive-date=22 August 2012}}</ref> In the [[Swimming at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay|4×100&nbsp;m freestyle relay]] Halsall swam the second leg in a split of 53.29, helping the British team to a 5th-place finish. In the final of the [[Swimming at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 100 metre medley relay|4×100&nbsp;m medley relay]] the British team finished 8th, with Halsall providing an anchor leg of 54.08.

===2013 FINA Long Course World Championships===
Having just missed out on a medal in the 50m butterfly by coming fourth, Halsall successfully gained bronze in the 50m freestyle posting a time of 24.30 seconds. This ended a disappointing drought of medals for Great Britain just one year after the London Olympics, though Halsall was the only swimmer to finish in a medal-winning position.<ref name="BBC130806" />

=== 2014 Commonwealth Games ===
At the [[2014 Commonwealth Games]], Halsall won gold in the 50 m freestyle, setting three new Commonwealth Games records along the way.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=http://g2014results.thecgf.com/athlete/swimming/1023768/francesca_halsall.html |title=Glasgow 2014 – Francesca Halsall Profile |website=g2014results.thecgf.com |access-date=29 July 2019 |archive-date=29 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729232318/http://g2014results.thecgf.com/athlete/swimming/1023768/francesca_halsall.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> She also won the 50 m butterfly in a Games record time.<ref name=":0" /> In the relay events, she helped England to win silver in the 4 × 100 m freestyle and the 4 × 100 m medley.<ref name=":0" />

=== 2016 Olympics ===
Halsall competed for Great Britain at the [[2016 Summer Olympics]], narrowly missing out on a bronze medal in the 50 metres freestyle and helping the GB team to finish 7th in the 4 × 100 m freestyle.<ref>{{Cite Sports-Reference |url=http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ha/fran-halsall-1.html |title=Fran Halsall |access-date=29 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418035139/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ha/fran-halsall-1.html |archive-date=18 April 2020}}</ref>
[[File:Kazan 2015 - Francesca Halsall 50m freestyle.JPG|thumbnail|Kazan 2015]]

==Personal bests and records held==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
|-
! Event
! Long course
! Short course
|-
| 50&nbsp;m freestyle
| 23.96 (2014) <sup>'''[[List of British records in swimming|NR]]'''</sup>
| 23.44 (2009) <sup>'''[[List of British records in swimming|NR]]'''</sup>
|-
| 100&nbsp;m freestyle
| 52.87 (2009) <sup>'''[[List of British records in swimming|NR]]'''</sup>
| 51.19 (2009) <sup>'''[[List of British records in swimming|NR]]'''</sup>
|-
| 200&nbsp;m freestyle
| 1.59.13 (2008)
| 1.53.79 (2010) <sup>'''[[List of British records in swimming|NR]]'''</sup>
|-
| 50&nbsp;m butterfly
| 25.20 (2014) <sup>'''[[List of British records in swimming|NR]]'''</sup>
| 25.29 (2014) <sup>'''[[List of British records in swimming|NR]]'''</sup>
|-
| 100&nbsp;m butterfly
| 57.40 (2010)
| 55.71 (2009) <sup>'''[[List of British records in swimming|NR]]'''</sup>
|-
| 100&nbsp;m individual medley
|
| 58.55 (2009)
|-
| colspan="3" | <small>'''Record Key''' NR:British</small>
|}

==See also==
* [[List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming (women)]]
* [[List of Commonwealth Games medallists in swimming (women)]]

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="StMarys Gold for Fran">{{cite web |title=Gold for Fran! |url=http://www.stmarys.ac/school-news/gold-for-fran |publisher=St. Mary's College |work=School News |access-date=2 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130114161438/http://www.stmarys.ac/school-news/gold-for-fran |archive-date=14 January 2013}}</ref>

<ref name="BBC130806">{{cite news |title=Why did GB swimmers miss their medal target in Barcelona? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/swimming/23577104 |publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |date=6 August 2013 |access-date=6 August 2013}}</ref>

}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Francesca Halsall}}
* {{Official website|http://www.francescahalsall.com}}
* {{World Aquatics|1000964/fran-halsall|Fran Halsall}}
* {{Swimrankings|name=Francesca Halsall}}
* {{Olympics.com profile|francesca-halsall|Francesca Halsall}}
* {{Olympedia|name=Fran Halsall}}
* {{Team GB|name=Fran Halsall}} ([https://web.archive.org/web/20100226030112/http://www.olympics.org.uk/beijing2008/AthleteProfile.aspx?id=6648 archive])
* {{CGF|53906|Francesca Halsall}} (2006)
* {{CGF|57818|Francesca Halsall}} (2010–2014)
* [http://www.swimming.org/britishswimming/swimming/womens-profiles/francesca-halsall/ Profile at British Swimming] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719151116/http://www.swimming.org/britishswimming/swimming/womens-profiles/francesca-halsall/ |date=19 July 2011 }}

{{Footer World LC Champions 4x100m Medley Mixed}}
{{Footer European Champions 50m Freestyle Women}}
{{Footer European Champions 100m Freestyle Women}}
{{Footer European Champions 50m Backstroke Women}}
{{Footer European Champions 4x100m Medley Women}}
{{Footer European Champions 4×100m Medley Mixed|2014|2016}}
{{Footer Commonwealth Champions 50m Butterfly Women}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Halsall, Fran}}
[[Category:British female freestyle swimmers]]
[[Category:British female butterfly swimmers]]
[[Category:English female butterfly swimmers]]
[[Category:Olympic swimmers for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2012 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2016 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2006 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2010 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2014 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 2006 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 2010 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 2014 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for England]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists in swimming]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists for England]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists in swimming]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for England]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists in swimming]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Southport]]
[[Category:English female backstroke swimmers]]
[[Category:British female backstroke swimmers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1990 births]]
[[Category:World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming]]
[[Category:People educated at St Mary's College, Crosby]]
[[Category:Medalists at the FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)]]
[[Category:European Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming]]
[[Category:World record setters in swimming]]
[[Category:21st-century English sportswomen]]
[[Category:English female freestyle swimmers]]