Trickett comeback not good news for Great Britain's Halsall

AUSTRALIA'S three-time Olympic gold medallist Libby Trickett has announced her comeback from retirement with a view to London 2012 - and it's not good news for Great Britain's Fran Halsall.

COMEBACK TRAIL: Libby Trickett (R) has announced her comeback from retirement and will be in competition for London 2012 medals with Great Britain's Fran Halsall (L)

The 25-year-old claimed 100m butterfly and 4x100m medley gold at Beijing 2008 as well as 100m freestyle silver and 4x100m freestyle bronze.

But she failed to add to her eight world titles in Rome last summer, settling for 100m freestyle bronze behind Halsall, who took silver, and promptly called time on her career in December.

"I guess it was a progression for me when I made the decision to retire," she told Network Ten news.

"I thought about it a lot and was really ready to (retire).

"I retired last year thinking I didn't have any more goals to achieve and it was the reason to retire.

"But throughout the course of this year there were lots of little things that started to make me miss (the pool) during race time.

"I think it really solidified it at Pan Pacific Championships (in California last month) seeing the guys race.

"I guess I was just ready to test myself again and really I just want to see how far I can take my swimming and see how fast I can get."

Halsall announced herself as Great Britain's new golden girl of swimming at the European Championships this summer, claiming no less than five medals.

She topped the podium in the 100m freestyle and the 4x100m medley relay, taking silver in the 100m butterfly and 4x100m freestyle and bronze in the 50m freestyle.

The 20-year-old has spoken of her desire to again compete on numerous fronts at London 2012 but will now face the added competition from Trickett in the majority of her races.