England finalise 45-strong swimming squad for Commonwealth Games

DOUBLE Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington will spearhead England's 45-strong swimming team at the Commonwealth Games after the squad was finalised today.

LEADING LADY: Rebecca Adlington is one of 45 English swimmers heading to Delhi for the 2010 Commonwealth Games (Reuters)

Newly-crowned European champion Adlington will be joined in Delhi by the likes of world champions Liam Tancock and Gemma Spofforth while 15 more swimmers have been added to the squad after last weekend's final selection event in Sunderland.

They include World University Games champion Stephanie Proud, former four-time European junior title winner Anne Bochmann and former double world junior gold medallist Daniel Sliwinski.

And butterfly specialist Antony James, who impressed at the recent European Championships in Budapest, as well as Kate Haywood, who won silver in the 50m breaststroke, have also been called up.

Great Britain won 18 medals in Budapest, six of which were gold, in their most successful European Championships in history, even though the Commonwealth Games is the priority this season.

Head coach Dennis Pursley has made no secret of the fact that he expects all of Great Britain's swimmers to be at their peak in Delhi in October, while UK Sport have set the home nations a target of 35 medals from the Commonwealth Games - three down on the number they won at Melbourne 2006.

In Melbourne, England returned with 22 medals and team leader John Atkinson sees no reason why the current crop cannot repeat the trick.

"I'm delighted Commonwealth Games England has selected such an impressive contingent of athletes to represent England with 45 swimmers being one of the largest swimming teams in the modern era of the Games," said Atkinson.

 "It's a full strength England team with tremendous potential. To have so many Olympic and World Championship medallists competing for England will serve the team well as they enter their final preparations for Delhi in October.

"However, it will be tough in Delhi for our swimmers. Australia continue to be a dominant force in world swimming, Canada are riding high after an impressive two years and the likes of New Zealand and South Africa will always challenge for medals.

"For the swimmers, the Commonwealth Games has been the focus of their entire year and I'm excited at our prospects."

England's chef de mission Craig Hunter - who managed England's swimmers at the Commonwealth Games in 2002 and 2006 - added: "It is with pride that we welcome such a strong swimming contingent into the England team for the Games in October. 

"We wish them every success with their final preparations for Delhi and at the Games themselves."

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