Alicia Coutts Ends Halsall's Golden Hopes

Australia's Alicia Coutts took gold in a very close 100m freestyle race which saw Fran Halsall pick up a second medal, this time it was bronze.

After a surprise win in the 50m butterfly for Halsall yesterday the English swimmer was amongst the favourites for the gold earlier today.

And it was a strong start for Halsall as she was first at the 50m point, with Coutts not making the top three at the half way point, but the Australian powered back as Halsall started to fade in the final meters.

Coutts clocked a time of 54.09 seconds while her team mate Seebohm was just behind in 54.30 second and Halsall stopped the clock at 54.57 seconds.

But after the race it became clear that Halsall was not well as she struggled to get out of the pool and stay on her feet. She was visibly wobbly on the podium and revealed all to the BBC after the race.

"I came down with a bit of a tummy bug and had nothing to give today, I pretty much couldn't stand up after my final.

"I don't know why I put myself through it sometimes. It's frustrating more than anything, I know at my best I can swim a lot faster.

"But what can you do? I got in and gave it my best shot. I've got to be proud of it, really."

Despite feeling ill Halsall was back in the pool not long after her bronze medal swim in the semi-final of the 100m butterfly but could only manage fourth and will now figure in the final.

But it wasn't all bad news in the 100m butterfly as England's Ellen Gandy was the quickest qualifier in 58.24 seconds, with Jemma Lowe from Wales in second.

Gemma Spofforth added to the medal tally as she won a silver medal in the women's 100m backstroke, but the world champion and world record holder had been looking for gold.

A poor finish cost her the gold medal as it was snatched from her from Emily Seebohm from Australia, who posted a Commonwealth Record of 59.79 seconds.

There was also a bronze medal for England in the women's 4x200m relay, another race that was dominated by Australia. And Rebecca Adlington reached the final of the 800m final, despite also feeling unwell.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw