2019 British Swimming Championships – Selection Policy Outline

2019 British Swimming Championships

The highlight of the British domestic swimming calendar is almost upon us, as amateurs and pro athletes alike will soon be descending upon the storied Tollcross International Swim Centre to compete for critical roster spots that set-up the remaining journey to Tokyo 2020.

On the line starting April 16th are roster spots for this summer’s World Championships, World Junior Championships, European Junior Championships and European Youth Olympic Festival, not to mention claiming bragging rights with the title ‘British National Champion.’

As in years past, there will be not just Open Finals in Glasgow, but also a Transition Final and Junior Final. The fastest 8 competitors from the heats irrespective of age will be placed in the Open Final, while the next fastest 8 age-eligible competitions will be relegated to the other 2 finals, with priority given to the Transition Final.

The Transition Final will house athletes born 1996 or later, while the Junior Final will host the European and World Junior age groups.

I’ve included the British Swimming Selection Policies for the World Championships, World Junior Championships, European Junior Championships and European Youth Olympic Festival, all linked above.

Specifically for the World Championships, as in years past, British Swimming has designed a two-table selection time strategy, with the time tables displayed below. The first place finisher in the open final of each individual Olympic event at these championships will be selected for Gwangju, provided the athlete records a time equal to or better than the Table 1 QT.

Following the selection of the athletes according to the aforementioned step, up to a maximum of 8 additional selections will be made at the discretion of the National Performance Director and Head Coach. After this step, consideration for selection of other athletes will then be given if such athletes better or equal times listed in Table 2 below.

In an even more detailed process, athletes’ times from their performance in the final will be ranked on the percentage inside the Table 2 time. As such, there is no guarantee that swimming inside a Table 2 time will earn selection.

Look for an additional meet preview highlighting specific athletes’ schedules.

 

 

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straightblackline
5 years ago

True to form, British Swimming have put up absurdly fast automatic qualifying times. Also as in the recent past the selection criteria are less than straightforward with considerable wiggle room(discretion) given. Expect subjective decision-making and controversy.

Tim
Reply to  straightblackline
5 years ago

Yes, it is clearly a tactic to limit automatic qualifiers to a tiny number so that selectors can hand pick the team and get their favourites in. Something we have seen more and more of in the past few years. There have been some shameful examples recently that I won’t go over again.

Leisurely1:29
5 years ago

Why do countries make the qual. times so fast? Like what exactly is the point?

Jeff
5 years ago

I wonder if the athletes are tapered seeing how quick the qualification times are!

JM90
Reply to  Jeff
5 years ago

Looks like it will have to be a full taper for most people to make then another full taper for worlds itself!

Dee
Reply to  Jeff
5 years ago

Full-taper for all bar Peaty is what I expect.

Rafael
Reply to  Dee
5 years ago

When is 200 on Britain? malyutin went fast and correa and scheffer will swim the 200 on Tuesday

Dee
Reply to  Rafael
5 years ago

Not until the last day – I think it’s the very last event of the meet. Could be some tired legs in that 200.

Skoorbnagol
Reply to  Rafael
5 years ago

Sunday, day 6 of the meet , last event normally

Dee
5 years ago

Honestly, we could end up with not a single auto qualifier on the womens side. Presumably the relay times will take a 0.5 takeover per swimmer into consideration?

Jeff
Reply to  Dee
5 years ago

I think Davies, Thomas, Clarke, O Connor could qualify for worlds. If Anna Hopkin carries across her scy form she may make it as well.

AnEn12
Reply to  Jeff
5 years ago

What about Hibbott and Miley?

Jeff
Reply to  AnEn12
5 years ago

I think Hibbott will qualify. Not as confident about Miley due to her injury. More confident on Willmott

JM90
5 years ago

Oosh, that will be about 10 outright qualifiers then!

Jeff
Reply to  JM90
5 years ago

They can qualify through other meets as well.

AnEn12
Reply to  JM90
5 years ago

10 as a best case scenario? I would say only Peaty and Proud are “guaranteed” to swim the required times. The following guys for sure have those times in them, anyone else making the standard would be rather surprising in my opinion:
Scott
Guy
Murdoch
Peaty
Proud
Thomas
SMOC
Hibbott
Miley
Litchfield

Dee
Reply to  AnEn12
5 years ago

Wilby??? Think Dean will qualify too (200IM).

Jeff
Reply to  Dee
5 years ago

Depends if Duncan Scott plans on doing it or not

Tim
Reply to  Dee
5 years ago

I think Dean looks really good. Not sure he will automatically qualify though. Really I don’t see many auto qualifiers but I’d be happy to be surprised.

AnEn12
Reply to  Dee
5 years ago

You see Dean swimming 1:56.8? Ok …
You might be right about Wilby, although i dont see any british men swimming sub 2:08.
The standard in mens 200 breast seems soft compared to the other times. Most other times would be enough to challenge for a medal while 2:08 is probably 1 second away from a medal-challenging time.

Dee
Reply to  AnEn12
5 years ago

I was thinking more the 100 for Wilby, considering he is top 5 all time in the event and has already gone 59.23 this year…

As for Dean – I meant he’ll hit the consideration time and qualify that way. That said, 1.56.8 wouldnt surprise me. Heard really good things about him, and the way he sat off Litchfield and stung him with a 27.0 final 50 at BUCS left a mark on me – He had so much in the tank. Likes a taper too, usually comes on a ton.

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Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having just earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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