17-Yr-Old Jacob Mills Proves He’s The Real Deal, Hits 48.03 100 Free In London

2025 AQUATICS GB SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Tuesday, April 15th – Sunday, April 20th
• Prelims at 9:30am local (4:30am ET)/Finals at 7pm local (2pm ET)
• London Aquatics Centre
• LCM (50m)
• Meet Central
• Aquatics GB World Championships Selection Criteria
• SwimSwam Preview
• Draft Entries
• Live Results
• Livestream
• Live Recaps
  • Prelims: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3
  • Finals: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

One of the most highly anticipated races of these 2025 Aquatics GB Swimming Championships was the men’s 100m freestyle, and tonight’s final did not disappoint.

The prelims were electric to set up tonight’s main event, as Olympic multi-medalist Matt Richards claimed the top seed in 48.07 followed by a surprisingly second-seeded Jacob Mills, just 17, who crushed a lifetime best of 48.11.

Additional Olympians in the mix included Alex Cohoon, Jacob Whittle and Tom Dean, with the latter opting for this as his sole individual event instead of his 2020 Olympics-winning 200m free.

In all, the top 6 morning swimmers were already under the 49-second barrier to put their hats in the ring for not only an individual bid, but also for a coveted spot on the men’s 4×100 free relay.

Top 8 Out of Prelims:

1. Matt Richards – 48.07
2. Jacob Mills – 48.11
3. Alex Cohoon – 48.23
4. Jacob Whittle – 48.55
5. Tom Dean – 48.63
6. Jack McMillan – 48.83
7. Alexander Painter – 49.06
8. Ed Mildred – 49.15

As we reported in this morning’s recap, Repton’s Mills’ time of 48.11 was a monster new lifetime best for the 17-year-old.

Mills has been on a steep upward trajectory, beginning with a personal best of 49.61 logged at last year’s Rotterdam Qualification Meet, followed by an even quicker PB of 49.33 at last month’s Edinburgh International Meet.

That means this morning’s result marked the teen’s first-ever foray under the 49-second barrier and, just like that, he rocketed up the all-time British rankings to become the 6th-fastest man ever.

Flash forward to tonight’s final and 22-year-old Richards maintained his lead over his competitors, clocking a time of 47.92 to take the gold.

That outing represented the 9th-best time of Richards’ career, easily clearing the Aquatics GB-mandated standard of 48.06 needed to qualify for this summer’s World Championshps in Singapore.

Getting to the wall next, however, was Mills, who remarkably dropped his personal best even lower en route to also qualifying for the World Championships.

Anyone who thought this morning’s result was a fluke was silenced as Mills stopped the clock at a head-turning 48.03 for yet another personal best.

17-year-old Mills opened in 23.16 and closed in 24.87 to snag the silver and join Richards in clearing the 48.06 mark needed for Singapore.

It’s astonishing to think how much time Mills has dropped in just the last several months, yet his firecracker swim tonight now renders him the 5th-swiftest British performer in history. He ties Whittle, who owns a 48.03 from 2 years ago.

Top 5 British Men’s LCM 100 Freestyle Performers All-Time

1. Matt Richards – 47.45, 2023
2. Lewis Burras – 47.63, 2022
3. Tom Dean – 47.93, 2022
4. Duncan Scott – 47.97, 2019
5. Jacob Whittle – 48.03, 2023 & Jacob Mills – 48.03, 2025

Additionally, Mill’s historic swim this evening represents a new British Age Record for 17-year-olds. His performance beat the 48.19 Whittle logged at the 2022 World Championships in Budapest.

His time also cleared the existing record for 18-year-old boys, which stands at 48.23 from Richards in 2021.

For additional perspective, breakout star Mills’ 48.03 from this evening would represent a new U.S. National Age Group Record for 17-18-year-old boys, surpassing the 48.38 Maximus Williamson put on the books at the 2023 World Junior Championships.

British Open Final

• World Record: 46.40 — Pan Zhanle, China (2024)
• European Record: 46.86 — David Popovici, Romania (2022)
• British Record: 47.45 — Matt Richards (2023)
• 2025 Aquatics GB Worlds Consideration Time: 48.06

Top 4:

1. Matt Richards, Manchester — 47.92 *Worlds Consideration Time*
2. Jacob Mills, Repton — 48.03 *British Junior Record, Worlds Consideration Time*
3. Tom Dean, Bath PC — 48.40
4. Jacob Whittle, Bath Uni — 48.45