A solitary silver medal over 50m was as good as it got for 20-year-old Lauren Quigley at last year’s Commonwealth Games after impressing in the nationals as she fell just short of the podium in the 100m and 200m.

Backstroke specialist Jessica Fullalove, 18, got a taste of the big time last year when she travelled with Team GB to the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing and came home with three silver medals, having also competed at the Commonwealth Games.

Danny Mills is hurriedly preparing himself for this year’s BUCS Nationals, the UK’s largest annual multi-sport event which takes place in Sheffield between February 20-22.

A Longsight woman was the first Mancunian to swim the English Channel 81 years ago today – and played a crucial role in ensuring iconic Victoria Baths came back from the depths.

Two avid runners will be aiming to cover 435 miles in a week for charity when they start a mega-marathon run in Bolton – and will be joined by Olympic athletes along the way.

Double Olympic gold-winning Adlington, who also claimed two bronze medals at the London 2012 Games, is keen to return the good deeds volunteers did for her when she was training as an elite athlete.

Jessica Fullalove will jet out to Nanjing for the second summer Youth Olympic Games between August 16 and 28 believing a medal is well within her grasp.

Jamieson will be joined in the pool by two times Paralympic champion Ellie Simmonds, with the pair expected to draw in the crowds from swimming fans across the country.

Manchester student Chris Steeples is focused on this summer’s Commonwealth Games

Goddard made the announcement on Twitter

Ten years since the baths won the first series of the BBC Restoration show