Swimming: Ellen Gandy quits Team GB to take plunge for Australia

Ellen Gandy after winning gold in the women’s 200m butterfly is congratulated by Jemma Lowe (left) (PA)

World 200 metres butterfly silver medallist Ellen Gandy has announced she is to switch allegiance and compete for Australia.

The Bromley-born swimmer moved to Australia with her family when she was 16 because of her father's job at Melbourne airport but had continued to represent Great Britain, winning medals at world, European and Commonwealth level. Gandy had been expected to challenge for a place on the podium at this summer's Olympics but her Games were not one to remember as she did not even make the semi-finals, crashing out 17th after the heats.

"A lot of the time I felt like I was in limbo because I didn't feel Australian but I didn't really feel British either because I wasn't there all the time," she said.