Former St Mary’s pupil Fran Halsall has won England’s first gold medal of the Commonwealth Games with a stunning performance in the women’s 50-metre butterfly swimming final in Delhi.

And more medals could be on the cards later in the week for the Southport swimmer who is competing in a further five events - the 100-metre butterfly, 50 and 100-metre freestyle and two relays.

The success in India comes hot on the heels of Fran’s success in the European Championships in Budapest in the summer where she won five medals, including gold in the 100-metre freestyle.

This achievement made her the most successful British swimmer ever at a single championships.

Previously Fran had competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

In Australia she was the youngest member of the England swimming squad and won silver medals in the 4x100-metre freestyle and 4x100-metre medley relays.

Fran also picked up four medals in the World Short Course Championships in Manchester in 2008, including a silver in the 100-metre freestyle, and silver in the same event in the 2009 World Championships in Rome.

Fran is now being tipped for glory in the 2012 London Olympics, but remains very down to earth in her approach.

She told the Daily Telegraph this week: “I was so happy with what I did in Budapest, but I would like to swim faster and I know I can in Delhi.

“I want to be out of the blocks first and that is starting to show. I am maturing with each race, coming into my own and I want to be on top of it this week.

“If I get through all the events to a high standard then I know that it is on the cards for London 2012.”

There is immense pride at St Mary’s College in what Fran has achieved. Principal Mike Kennedy commented: “It is a fantastic achievement to compete at this high standard and to win England’s first gold medal at such a prestigious event.

“Fran has a huge number of friends - and fans - at the school and we will all be rooting for her as she goes after more medals later in the week.”

The Principal also highlighted a family link: Fran’s cousin, Laura Halsall, a current Sixth Former at St. Mary’s College, achieved 3 gold medals in Portugal over the summer at the European Catholic Students’ Games; this came on top of her significant achievement at GCSE with 11A* grades. 

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