STEPHEN PARRY is hoping the success of Britain’s female swimmers can inspire Fran Halsall to greater heights this week.
The Southport swimmer returns to the pool tomorrow for the 100m freestyle heats, hoping to improve on her failure to make the semi-finals of the butterfly at the weekend.
But Halsall, who also goes in the 4x200m freestyle in Beijing, can take heart from her relay performance on Saturday when she broke her own British record on her leg of the 4x100m freestyle.
And the entire British swimming squad are in celebration mode after the past few days heralded the best performances from British women since 1960, following the women’s 400m freestyle race in which Becky Adlington took gold and Jo Jackson bronze.
Halsall’s fellow Liverpool swimmer Parry, the 2004 Olympic butterfly bronze medallist, said: “Fran has made a good start. Certainly the relay was her stand-out performance, breaking her own British record on her individual leg and then the team smashing the British record.
“And that’s all you can ask from the girls – that they go out there and do their best and they definitely did that.
“This has been the best weekend for British swimming in decades.
“Not only is the 48-year wait for a women’s Olympic title over courtesy of Becky Adlington, but Jo Jackson also grabbed a bronze.
“The British camp are on such a high, the rest of the week could throw up some fascinating results for Team GB.”
Halsall, with team-mates Caitlin McClathchey, Mel Marshall and Jess Sylvester, clocked 3:38.18 in their final to finish in seventh, behind gold medal winners and new Olympic record holders Netherlands.
But Parry revealed Halsall’s disappointment with her performance in the 100m butterfly, finishing in fifth with a time of 58:70, one place behind compatriot Jemma Lowe, and 21st overall.
“Fran’s disappointed,” said Parry. “It is by far her weakest event but she has the relay to build on and I’m sure she’ll improve for her other three events.
“I’ve got high hopes for her but she needs to take it a race at a time and I know she’ll do herself proud.”
Stephen Parry mentors Fran Halsall as part of the Champion and Challenger scheme organised by Atos Origin, the Worldwide IT Partner for the Olympic Games.
