FRAN Leighton briefly sampled the Olympic atmosphere in Beijing this summer as a spectator - and it only strengthened her resolve to play a more active role in the 2012 Games in London.

Leighton, 26, a former county standard netballer, has played water polo for 12 years.

Dad Norman is a former GB coach and her fireman brother Richard, 25, reached international standard.

So, the prospect of being part of the first British Olympic women's water polo squad is a major goal.

"Hopefully, I'll still be involved," said Leighton, who crossed the Pennines from Rotherham in 2000 to attend Manchester Metropolitan University and never left.

"We've not had a home tournament since the Commonwealth championships in 2002.

"So, it would be a major boost for the team and the sport to play in front of our own supporters. However, nothing is guaranteed just yet.

"We haven't been told definitely we're in the Games. Or maybe it's just like that to keep us on our toes. We've got certain stepping stones before we get to London, including the European Nations Championship next July.

"I went to Beijing as part of the 2012 Ambition Programme and it was a great experience.

"We visited the holding camp in Macau and then travelled to Beijing to watch some of the matches."

Leighton, a centre forward, has travelled the globe with her sport, spending 12 months playing league water polo in Australia.

But, as with Britain's cycling and taekwondo stars, Manchester is now home. GB Water Polo's High Performance Centre is based at the Aquatics Centre on Oxford Road.

And major domestic and international events are staged in the city.

When she's not training, Leighton is a part-time swimming teacher at Varley Street in Miles Platting.

"It's impossible to work full-time because of training," she said. "We train twice a day and do gym sessions four times a week. So, that's why I'm grateful for the funding I get from the National Lottery.

"I was here for two or three years before we got any more and it's just changed everything we do and helped make the sport more professional. It would mean everything if I get a chance to compete in the Olympics."

FOUR City of Manchester stars - Ed Scott, Mike Bourne, Richard Lawlor and Sean Ryder - helped Britain attain fourth place in the recent Comen Cup in Malta.

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