100 Team GB contenders for London 2012: Joanne Jackson

Swimming (400m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle relay)

Born: 12/12/86

Career highlights

The Olympic 400m freestyle bronze medallist upstaged her good friend Rebecca Adlington at the 2009 World Championships in Rome, winning silver in the 400m and 800m freestyle. She had broken the 400m freestyle world record a few months earlier at the national championships in Sheffield.

Career lowlights

Jackson failed to make an impact in individual events in 2010 as her health and form nosedived. One of her ribs kept popping out while she was swimming and she then started suffering chronic asthma attacks.

A new medication has helped resurrect her career, but she unexpectedly failed to reach the semi-finals of the 200m freestyle at the latest World Championships.

Did you know?

Her older sister Nicola swam for Great Britain at the 2000 Olympic Games as part of the 4x200m freestyle team, finishing sixth. A year later, she won relay gold at the World Championships.

The sisters have never swum for Great Britain together.