Fran Halsall secures place in 100m freestyle final

Team GB's Fran Halsall has secured a place in the women's 100m freestyle final at the Olympic Games.

The 22-year-old was drawn in a tough heat in the semi-finals, but picked up the pace at the death to hit the side before Femke Heemskerk of Holland.

Heemskerk's compatriot Ranomi Kromowidjojo won the heat with a time of 53.05s, a new Olympic record. Missy Franklin of the United States was close behind on 53.59s.

Great Britain's Amy Smith got off to a good start, but fell off the pace during the final 50m to come in eighth.

Halsall's finish time of 53.77s sends her through to tomorrow evening's final as the joint-fifth fastest qualifier with Denmark's Jeanette Ottesen Gray.