Games boost for GB captain

The British women's captain has endured a nervy time away from the pool with UK Sport cutting funds to water polo and the British Olympic Association stalling on a decision to let them automatically qualify for London 2012.

But in the water Leighton and co have been making waves, thumping Israel 26-1 in a European Championships qualifier in January, leading to the BOA handing both the men and women's side host nation places last week.

And with the anxiety finally behind her, the 28-year-old is convinced the opportunity to just concentrate on playing will see her side blaze a path to the capital next year.

"After all our dedication over the last four or five years, the Olympic association has obviously recognised that and so we are really thrilled to be part of the London Olympics," she said.

"

I think we would have been really disappointed if the decision hadn't gone our way but we have always tried to stay positive and not have those thoughts.

"And we have got so much to offer I think with it being a different sport for everyone to see and it would have been a shame not to have been part of that.

"We can start to plan now because before we could plan for it but until it was signed and sealed we were all really nervous about it.

"So it means our plans can go ahead we can look at getting our Olympic preparation going, where we want to play before that and everything and so it is just really exciting that these plans can start to become concrete ideas ready for next year."