British swimming has announced a �15m sponsorship deal with British Gas to help fund the sport through the London Olympics and to 2015.

The money will be spent at all levels from learners to elite swimmers, such as 2008 Olympic double gold medallist Rebecca Adlington.

British swimming chief executive David Sparkes said: "It provides us with the opportunity to take a big step forward.

"Together we'll work hard towards achieving more medals in 2012."

606: DEBATE Your thoughts on British swimming's new sponsorship deal

"Our role is to nurture swimming across the board. This means nurturing the talent of Britain's brightest hopes for London 2012 and beyond, but also with many pools under threat of closure, working hard to help pools stay open."

The deal comes on the back of the news that British Swimming's partnership with Speedo will continue until 2016.

"We are very pleased to be continuing our relationship with Speedo," Sparkes said. "It is crucial to the future of swimming that British Swimming associates itself with a brand which is so devoted to the sport and to its athletes."

Olympic swimming will receive �37m in Lottery investment from UK Sport in the run up to 2012, up from the �31.1m prior to the Beijing Olympics.

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