16-Yr-Old Jacob Whittle Lowers Own 100 Free British Age Record – 48.75

2021 BRITISH SWIMMING GLASGOW MEET

Already having secured his spot on the British Olympic roster for Tokyo, 16-year-old Jacob Whittle is getting some additional racing action in at this British Swimming Glasgow Meet. And, he’s making the most of the opportunity to try out night prelims and morning finals, just as he’ll do in Tokyo.

Competing in the prelims session this evening, Whittle produced a top-seeded effort of 48.75 in the men’s 100m freestyle. Landing lane 4 with his swim, Whittle sliced .01 off of his previous lifetime best and British Age Record for 16-year-olds. He notched the previous mark of 48.76 at the 2021 British Swimming Selection Trials where he finished 4th, good enough to add his name to the lineup for this summer’s Games.

Split comparisons:

Old Record of 48.76 – 23.98/24.78

New Record of 48.75 – 24.05/24.70

For reference to just how impressive a 48.75 is from a 16-year-old, Whittle is faster than the reigning world champion in the event Caeleb Dressel was at age 16. In 2013, Dressel posted a new US 15-16 age group record of 49.28; a mark that still stands today.

With his .01 time drop, Whittle now becomes the 8th fastest performer in British history outright, whereas his previous 48.76 tied David Cumberlidge.

All-Time 100 Freestyle Ranking – Great Britain

  1. Duncan Scott – 47.87
  2. Simon Burnett – 48.20
  3. Matt Richards – 48.23
  4. Adam Brown – 48.48
  5. Tom Dean – 48.51
  6. Ben Proud – 48.52
  7. Lewis Edward Burras – 48.58
  8. Jacob Whittle – 48.75
  9. David Cumberlidge – 48.76

As quick as Whittle is at this young of an age, Romanian David Popovici is still faster by over half a second, owning a newly-minted lifetime best of 48.08 en route to placing 6th at the European Championships. Popovici is also just 16 years old as is known to be the fastest 100m freestyle ever worldwide for the age.

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Boknows34
3 years ago

48.55 for Whittle this morning

Sapnu puas
Reply to  Boknows34
3 years ago

Assuming Duncan scratches, move Dean out the way and throw Whittle in for the individual please and thanks!

Thomas Selig
Reply to  Boknows34
3 years ago

And 53.75 for Litchfield in 100 back. Under CT, so you assume he gets a second individual swim in Tokyo.

Joris Bohnson
3 years ago

Battle for gold in 100 free Paris 2024: Whittle – Popovici – Dressel

nuotofan
Reply to  Joris Bohnson
3 years ago

I agree with this order: Popovici, Dressel, Whittle 😉

Joel
Reply to  nuotofan
3 years ago

With Chalmers passing all of them in the last 25 metres

nuotofan
Reply to  Joel
3 years ago

Obviously Chalmers may well be in the mix, and all these “predictions” are made just for fun: 3 years are a very, very long period in Swimming. I only hope that every name made and all the others (Kolesnikov, Miressi and so on) will stay healthy so that everyone will swim in his best form.

Philip Johnson
3 years ago

The next Adam Peaty in the 100 free?

Dee
Reply to  Philip Johnson
3 years ago

Minakov, Popovici, Whittle, Southam and a handful more… Too many incredible kids to imagine there will be a Peaty like standout tbh.

Pvdh
Reply to  Philip Johnson
3 years ago

Chalmers was 48.6 at 16 and there is someone who is older than him, who was slower than him at that time that is now better than him. He’d need to be like 47.5 or lower to have that consideration.

nuotofan
Reply to  Pvdh
3 years ago

At 16?

Robbos
Reply to  Pvdh
3 years ago

That guy that is faster (not better) then him is at .08 faster & that is not an insurmountable time.
Wait till this guy wins Olympic gold in the 100 free to be Chalmers equal.

Jaque Fourie
3 years ago

What we thinking for the 4×1 this year? Do you think Scott will be rested for the final? They might not make it without him? I think Scott, Richards, Dean and probably Guy for the final. He did a 47.9 split at the euros. He can go 47.7 split as he did at 2019 worlds.

Dean 48.2
Scott 47.0
Richards 47.7
Guy 47.7
3:10.6 Bronze Medal

Curious swimmer
Reply to  Jaque Fourie
3 years ago

I think Scott for anchor at 46.3

Troyy
Reply to  Curious swimmer
3 years ago

Nope.

Curious swimmer
Reply to  Troyy
3 years ago

Did not realize the 200fr semis and heats were the same day 🤣 my bad

Khachaturian
3 years ago

Eggs benedict cumberbatch

Penguin
Reply to  Khachaturian
3 years ago

Pope benedict cumberbatch

Anonymoose
Reply to  Penguin
3 years ago

the venedig cucumber patch?

Pullbuoy
3 years ago

Tom Dean went 48.30 at the European championships so leapfrogged Adam Brown into 4th, but that doesn’t affect Jacob – terrific swim from him

Dee
3 years ago

He has every chance of swimming the 100 at the Olympic Games if he can get the ‘A’ time tomorrow. You’d think it’s quite likely Scott & Dean both scratch the event. He still looks so raw too, lots to learn with his skills and technique – Sky’s the limit.

Burras, Dean, Richards & Whittle all born 2000 or later – Real hope for Britain’s sprint freestylers for the next few years.

Small catch: Tom Dean went 48.30 at Euros.

Last edited 3 years ago by Dee
SwimSider
Reply to  Dee
3 years ago

Why would Dean scratch?

Dee
Reply to  SwimSider
3 years ago

I look at it like this: The 100 is a secondary individual event for Tom (should Dunks scratch as he has indicated), realistically he has no chance of a medal, and it clashes with his biggest chance of winning an Olympic Gold (4×2).

SwimSider
Reply to  Dee
3 years ago

But ok for Richards who also has no chance of a medal in it, and same clash? Makes no sense, particularly as it is after the 200 and he may want to best Richards for Medley relay heat.

Dee
Reply to  SwimSider
3 years ago

It’s Richards’ primary event and only individual swim at the Games. Suspect Dean will lead off the 4×1 again, getting a chance to put a time down there.

SwimSider
Reply to  Dee
3 years ago

Disagree it is primary given his 1’45.7 200Fr(not far off 2019 Worlds podium). The 4×200 is a history making opportunity, but you want him to attempt both potentially doing an unraced 200 in the final. Seems risky

Dee
Reply to  SwimSider
3 years ago

I see him as a 200 man too, but when you actually look at it: The 100 is his only individual swim at the Games, his 200 PB would have gone out in the SFs at Worlds whilst he would have been 7th in the 100FR. Gold in the 100fr at Euro Juniors, silver in the 200fr. He has had more success in the 100 if you’re looking at actual tangible results.

SwimSider
Reply to  Dee
3 years ago

You’re scratching about a bit now. He shouldn’t do the 100 if you don’t think he can double and it’s sounds like you have inside information. Must swim the 4×200 heat very well to get his final spot and make history

Last edited 3 years ago by SwimSider
Dee
Reply to  SwimSider
3 years ago

What I’ve said is clear imo: Tom Dean has the 200fr, where he is a medal favourite. Matt Richards doesn’t. The 100 is secondary for one swimmer, and primary for another. I’ve no doubt both *could* double – But why would you if you have no hope of winning a medal and have a better individual event? For Matt, he’s 18, at his first OLY with one individual swim. Very different situations in my eyes, but it’s a game of opinions.

Sapnu puas
Reply to  Dee
3 years ago

If Whittle was to get the Fina A standard is up to the British selectors’ discretion if they put Dean or Whittle in? (Assuming Duncan does scratch)

Dee
Reply to  Sapnu puas
3 years ago

Yep, entirely up to selectors. They don’t usually give swimmers & coaches no choice though – They’ll have conversation.

Jamie5678
Reply to  Dee
3 years ago

Yes this makes sense to me. I’d expect Scott to scratch the 100m which would leave Dean and Richards. I’d expect Dean to scratch the 100m to concentrate on the relay and his individual 200m which would leave a slot open for Whittle alongside Richards. This said, I doubt Whittle will drop half a second in the final. And Richards would presumably have to swim twice in the finals session – assuming qualification.

Britain has very good depth in the 200m and decent depth in the 100m – the problem is that their best 4 are the same swimmers at both distances.

Dee
Reply to  Jamie5678
3 years ago

I thought the FINA ‘A’ time was 48.57? 0.18s would do it. No easy task, but he has a shot at it.

Last edited 3 years ago by Dee
Jamie5678
Reply to  Dee
3 years ago

I think the UK selectors have a more stringent threshold at 48.35. But I could be wrong!

Dee
Reply to  Jamie5678
3 years ago

I could be wrong, but I don’t think qualification standards necessarily apply once you’re on the team. He’s already selected, if he gets the FINA ‘A’ and there is a spot going, he’ll swim it.

JimSwim22
Reply to  Dee
3 years ago

To enter 2 swimmers at Olympics both have to be under the A cut

Dee
Reply to  JimSwim22
3 years ago

Yep, that’s what I said

Pvdh
Reply to  Dee
3 years ago

Zero chance Dean scratches a 100 free individual spot lol. You never know what’s going to happen in this sport and giving up a race at the freaking Olympics is not on the cards unless you’re Phelps and it literally is not possible.

HJones
Reply to  Dee
3 years ago

It is crazy how fast he goes in races without wearing a “real” tech suit. The Funky Trunks suit he wears is awful (I was gifted one and tried it) and he would be better off wearing a practice brief than that. Get Whittle a Mizuno or an Arena and he is a 48.0 swimmer.

Dee
Reply to  HJones
3 years ago

He wears FTs? Whatever works for him, but yeah, I’m with you. Mizuno for me, every time.

Last edited 3 years ago by Dee
Dan
Reply to  HJones
3 years ago

Watch the race, he wore an arena mate

Bruh
3 years ago

The splitting of these races are just incredible

Washed
Reply to  Bruh
3 years ago

In ‘14 juniors at San Antonio I put my feet on the wall in 23.99 and went 51 high I think so yes I agree

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