Day seven at the Olympic Games was another great one for athletes from Loughborough College as Fran Halsall made it through to the 50m freestyle final on the penultimate night of pool action and Matthew Hudson-Smith and Sophie Hitchon helped begin Team GB’s athletics campaign, respectively reaching the men’s 400m semi-finals and the final of the women’s hammer throw.
After winning her heat in the women’s 50m freestyle in 24.26 seconds to rank second fastest overall , former Loughborough College student Fran Halsall said:
“I have had a great preparation, I didn’t come into the village until four days ago.
“I was excited but not as excited as being in this arena. I kept my emotions low and I feel really good. I have had the best season I could have possibly had.
“I am standing behind the blocks saying to myself whatever happens, happens. I couldn’t have given any more this season or this cycle.
“I have been as professional as I can be, stayed on top of things, stayed on top of illness and done everything my coach has asked me to do.
“If I get the result great, if I don’t it is because other people are better than me on the day. I feel really relaxed with that and I am here just to see what I can do.
“That felt great and I was really happy with it. If I can move through the rounds, move through the semi-final, all that matters is the final and in the final it is me against seven other girls and it is going to be close.”
That evening Halsall set herself with a shot at a medal after winning her semi-final 24.41 to rank fourth fastest going into the final – the first event of the last evening of races in the pool – and she believes being away from the centre lanes good play into her hands.
“Fourth fastest is kind of the perfect place to be. One of the blue lanes is a little bit less stressful than the yellow ones in the middle so that is really nice.”
Loughborough College student Lianna Swan also competed in the women’s 50m freestyle heats, for Pakistan, but her 29.02 was not enough to take her through to the semi-finals.
Meanwhile it was great news for former Loughborough College student Sophie Hitchon in the women’s hammer as she qualified to the final in 6th with a throw of 70.37m.
Elsewhere, on the track, former Loughborough College student Matthew Hudson-Smith qualified for the men’s 400m semi-finals.
But there was disappointment for three-time Olympian and fellow former Loughborough College student Martyn Rooney who came in fifth in heat 2 and failed to qualify.
“That was awful, it was embarrassing. I feel like I’m in great shape and that I’m in a hell of a lot better shape than I was this time last year.
“Maybe I’m just too blasé and that is something you can’t do at the Olympic Games.
“I was far too slow through 200m. I could see the other guys coming but I didn’t want to kick it around the bend too hard because then you waste your energy.
“I didn’t feel like I was really going that quick at all.
“I felt like I was running a solid pace and I felt quite fresh when I finished but 45.6 is awful.
“If I get through then tomorrow will be a completely different day and you’ll hopefully see a different me.
“If not then it’s in the relay that I’ll have to make up for it for the country, for myself and for my family.”
Great Britain’s men’s hockey team, featuring former Loughborough College student Henry Weir, saw their Olympic campaign come to an end with a 1-1 draw against Spain - which was not enough to secure qualification out of pool A.
Sam Ward’s first half strike cancelled out David Alegre’s opener to earn the point but with Belgium losing to New Zealand later in the evening, GB finished fifth in the pool on five points.
Day eight of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games has been billed as Super Saturday II with Jessica Ennis-Hill, Mo Farah and Greg Rutherford, all bidding for glory – and they are joined by a host of athletes from Loughborough College doing the same.
On the final day of races in the pool, Fran Halsall competes in the Women’s 50m Freestyle Final with Siobhan-Marie O’Connor joining Team GB for the Women’s 4x 100m Medley Relay Final. GB’s women, featuring Nicola White, face the USA in the last hockey pool match. Matthew Hudson-Smith competes in the Men’s 400m semi-finals while James Dasalou begins his Olympic campaign in the Men’s 100m preliminary heats.
Pictured: Former Loughborough College student Fran Halsall of Great Britain competes in the Women's 50m Freestyle Semi-finals on Day 7 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (Vaughn Ridley/SWpix)