Fran's fit and firing

Fran Halsall is putting her injury troubles behind and her as she sets her eyes on the top with the help of Sky Sports Scholarships.

The 21-year-old swimmer won five medals at the 2010 European Championships in Budapest, but was forced to sit out for several months with an ankle ligament injury.

However, she insists she is fully recovered and is now fully fit to focus on the challenges of the months ahead.

She told Sky Sports News HD: "2010 was a great year and after that I had a niggling ankle injury that I had to get sorted for 2011 to make sure I was in the best shape for 2012.

"Everything's all good - I've got a bionic ankle now!"
Fran Halsall Quotes of the week

"Things are looking good at the moment and I've got a few good competitions in the bag, so now I'm looking forward to racing the trials in March and hopefully qualifying for the team in the summer.

"I had an operation this time last year, one of the ligaments had come away so they had to go in there and stick it back on, so to speak.

"All that's sorted, I did all my rehab last year and I swam pretty fast in the summer at the World Championships.

"Everything's all good - I've got a bionic ankle now!"

Success

Sky Sports will be supporting Halsall to achieve her dreams by contributing to travel and accommodation on her hectic competition/training schedule.

The funding will also be helping to maintain Fran's health when she is away at camps and competitions by providing access to the best physiotherapists and sports science professionals.

"It will make a great difference," she explained.

"We have to travel all around the country to get to competitions and stay over in places. We have to go abroad for training camps and things like that.

"It's going to make a big difference in that kind of sense, so you don't have to worry when you go to a competition: 'Oh I have to stay in a certain hotel' - you can get the best hotel available.

"Things like that I think will make a great difference."