2024 British Olympic Trials: Day 6 Finals Live Recap

2024 Aquatics GB Swimming CHAMPIONSHIPS (OLYMPIC TRIALS)

• Tuesday, April 2nd – Sunday, April 7th
• Prelims at 10 am local (5 am EDT), Finals at 7 pm local (2 pm EDT)
• London Aquatics Centre
• LCM (50m)
• British Swimming Olympic Selection Policy
• Meet Central
• SwimSwam Preview
• Entries
• Prelims: Day 1 Recap/Day 2 Recap/Day 3 Recap/Day 4 Recap/Day 5 Recap/Day 6 Recap
• Finals: Day 1 Recap/Day 2 Recap/Day 3 Recap/Day 4 Recap/Day 5 Recap
• Results
• Livestream: Channel 4 YouTube coverage

Heat Sheet

Order of Events

• Women’s 800 Freestyle
• Men’s 200 Backstroke
• Women’s 100 Breaststroke
• Women’s 100 Freestyle
• Men’s 200 Freestyle

Characteristic of my brilliance, my plans haven’t caught on, and “Chunnel” hasn’t made a comeback yet. Is it too much to ask for the announcers to just say it once? The answer is probably yes, so the overt action of yesterday will have to take a backseat to more subliminal messaging.

However, we are not here to make “Chunnel” happen; rather, it is the last day of the Aquatics GB Swimming Championships 2024. We have seen a bevy of fast swimming, including a new national record (or two), and tonight should be no exception.

Using the benefit of youth, the first event of the evening sees multiple teenagers in the fastest heat of the 800. Leading the charge for the British distance women is 14-year-old Amelie Blocksidge. The winner in the 1500, Blocksidge, enters with a time of 8:32.65, and while the nomination standard is over six seconds faster, don’t count her out. While making the standard is a stretch, she was under the Olympic consideration time in the 1500, so with a strong swim here, she could be eyed as a discretionary pick. She will be flanked by Fleur Lewis and Leah Crisp tonight, with the former the only other swimmer entered sub-8:40.

Not yet on the team, but looking to defend his Olympic bronze medal is Luke Greenbank. Since the Olympics, Greenbank has been up and down. He won silver at the 2022 Worlds but failed to make the Worlds team in 2023 and was just 9th in Doha. However, he has the center lane tonight and was faster than anyone else by over one and a half seconds. Already on the team is Oliver Morgan, the newly minted record holder in the 100 back, and he will look to use his early speed to set the pace. Surrounding the pair are Jonny Marshall and Brodie Williams, and both will look to contest for the win.

National Record Watch is in effect in the Women’s 100 breast as Angharad Evans swam a speedy 1:06.27 and now sits just .08 away from Molly Renshaw‘s record. Evans, who already clipped the nomination standard this morning, will look to do it again tonight. Individual event berths aren’t the only spot on the line, as medley relay berths are up for grabs. Kara Hanlon, the winner in the 200, will line up to Evan’s right in lane 5 and was the only other swimmer under 1:08, but you can’t count out Imogen Clark, the fastest British woman in the 50 breast.

Eva Okaro swam her way into a good position to make her first Olympic team after taking the second seed tonight. Okaro, who was the silver medalist in the 50 free, will look to contest with top seed and British record holder Anna Hopkin. While the nomination standard may be a step too far for Okaro, relay spots are certainly up for grabs as she will look to fend off the likes of Freya Anderson (who is making her way back after a bout of glandular fever), Isabella Hindley, Abbie Wood, Lucy Hope, and Freya Colbert.

Last but certainly not least, saving the best for last, insert whatever adage you want here; we end the evening and compete with the Men’s 200 Free. Over the past few Olympic cycles, the event has been one of the strongest for the nation. In Rio, James Guy placed 4th in the individual final, and the 4×200 relay earned silver. At the next games in Tokyo, Guy teamed up with Matt Richards and, with the help of the individual gold medalist Thomas Dean and individual silver medalist Duncan Scott, the quartet topped the podium in the relay. Tonight, the four will look to repeat the feat but will have to first qualify. Dean enters as the fastest qualifier, followed by Richards, but they face threats from Guy, who has yet to qualify, as well as Jack McMillian, who is seeking his first Olympic team representing Great Britain.

Women’s 800 Freestyle– Fastest Heat

• World Record: 8:04.79 – Katie Ledecky, USA (2016)
• British Record: 8:14.10 – Rebecca Adlington (2008)
• 2021 Champion: Leah Crisp – 8:44.67
• Nomination Standard: 8:25.84
• OLY A/B Standards: 8:26.71/8:29.24

Top 8:

1. Amelie Blocksidge (Co Salford) – 8:32.61
2. Fleur Lewis (Lboro Uni) – 8:36.41
3. Michaella Glenister (Uni of Stirling) – 8:43.00
4. Leah Crisp (Bath PC) – 8:43.76
5. Ella Dyson (Wycombe Dist) – 8:46.04
6. Hollie Wilson (Co Leeds) – 8:47.70
7. Lucy Fox (Wycombe Dist) – 8:51.37
8. Amber Keegan (Co Sheffield) – 8:55.56

Amelie Blocksidge knocked off another 14-year-old age group record just two days shy of her birthday. The City of Salford swimmer led from start to finish, opening a second and half lead at the 200 mark, flipping in 2:05.48. In the 400 event, Blocksidge was out in 2:06.26.  By the 400, however, she lost that early speed as her split eas 4:15.00, whereas her silver medal-winning time in the 400 was 4:12.09. She saw much of the race alone as she was nearly three seconds ahead of Fleur Lewis at the halfway mark and won by close to four seconds.

Unlike in the 1500, Blocksidge was outside of the Olympic Consideration time (B-cut) so even if she were selected, she would not be able to swim the event. Blocksidge most likely will swim at the European Junior Championships, set to start in July in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Men’s 200 Backstroke– Finals

• World Record: 1:51.92 – Aaron Peirsol, USA (2009)
• British Record: 1:54.43 – Luke Greenbank (2021)
• 2021 Champion: Luke Greenbank – 1:56.70
• Nomination Standard: 1:57.28
• OLY A/B Standards: 1:57.50/1:58.09

Top 8:

1. Oliver Morgan (Birmingham Uni) – 1:56.27
2. Luke Greenbank (L;borogh PC) – 1:56.39
3. Brodie Williams (Bath PC) – 1:57.02
4. Jonathon Marshall (Carnegie) – 1:58.11
5. Charlie Brown (L’borogh PC) – 1:58.30
6. Jack Skerry (Bath PC) – 1:58.60
7. Matthew Ward (Bath PC) – 1:59.03
8. Cameron Brooker (Bath PC) – 1:59.97

It was a back-and-forth race in the men’s 200 back; Florida Gator freshman Jonny Marshall took the race out fast, flipping first at the 100 in 56.08. Hot on his heels were Luke Greenbank and Oliver Morgan, who were just behind at 56.39 and 56.89. By the 150 turn, Greenbank had started to close the gap but used a strong underwater to move past Marshall. Marshall started to fade in the last 25 as was passed by three swimmers.

It looked like it was going to be Greenbank, but Oliver Morgan dropped a swift 29.26 last 50 to just get past the 2021 bronze medalist to take the win in 1:56.27, .12 ahead of Greenbank’s 1:56.39. Also dropping a sub 30 last 50 was Brodie Williams, but his 29.49 wasn’t enough to catch Greenbank for second.

The top three all were under the nomination standard of 1:57.28. Morgan was already on the team courtesy of his 100-back win, but Greenbank will have to wait to see if the Performance Director and Head Coach will select him as one of their discretionary picks.

Women’s 100 Breaststroke– Finals

• World Record: 1:04.13 – Lilly King, USA (2017)
• British Record: 1:06.21 – Molly Renshaw (2021)
• 2021 Champion: Sarah Vasey – 1:06.37
• Nomination Standard: 1:06.31
• OLY A/B Standards: 1:06.79/1:07.12

Top 8:

1. Angharad Evans (Uni of Stirling) – 1:06.54
2. Kara Hanlon (Edinburgh Uni) – 1:06.60
3. Imogen Clark (Derby Excel) – 1:07.37
4. Leah Schlosshan (Co Leeds) – 1:08.26
5. Sienna Robinson (Lboro Uni) – 1:08.57
6. Anna Morgan (Edinburgh Uni) – 1:08.61
7. Elizabeth Booker (L’borogh PC) – 1:09.26
8. Amy Crowley (Co Cardiff) – 1:09.79

After this morning’s fireworks, Angharad Evans was just a little short this evening. At the 50 turn, she was just .01 slower than this morning but appeared to tighten up in the last 25 meters as a fast-charging Kara Hanlon made her move to try to catch her. Evans just held on and won in 1:06.54, only .04 ahead of Hanlon’s 1:06.60.

Both swimmers were outside of the nomination standard tonight (Evans’s time this morning does not count toward roster qualification), so neither is guaranteed a spot on the train. Evans could be named for the 4×100 medley but will have to wait for the 100-free relay results to see if the relay meets the self-imposed nomination standard. Hanlon, who won the 200, could be a discretionary pick but will have to wait for the roster to be made official. Both swimmers were under the Olympic Qualifying time of 1:06.79, so theoretically, if both were selected, one could see the pair chasing Molly Renshaw‘s record of 1:06.21.

Blocksidge gets a lot of attention for her age, but 12-year-old Iona Winnifrith went above and beyond her. Winnifrith, who swims in the SB7 class, tied points-wise (995) with Brock Whiston in the 100 breaststroke in a time of 1:31.58, lowering her own Senior SB7 national record in process. The pair will share the title of British champion and were just two of six swimmers who hit the nominating time.

Women’s 100 Freestyle– Finals

• World Record: 51.71 – Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden (2017)
• British Record: 52.75 –Anna Hopkin (2021)
• 2021 Champion: Freya Anderson – 53.40
• Nomination Standard: 53.55
• 4×100 Nomination Standard: 3:36.40
• OLY A/B Standards: 53.61/53.88

Top 8:

1. Anna Hopkin (L’borogh PC) – 53.33
2. Eva Okaro (Repton) – 54.46
3. Freya Anderson (Bath PC) – 54.59
4. Freya Colbert (L’borogh PC) – 55.10
5. Evelyn Davis (Uni of Stirling) – 55.25
6. Abbie Wood (L’borogh PC) – 55.26
7. Lucy Hope (Uni of Stirling) – 55.35
8. Isabella Hindley (L’borogh PC) – 55.59

Anna Hopkin proves that you need not be tall to be a good sprinter, as she surged to a lead at the 50 and only built upon it there. Out in 25.61, Hopkin came home in 27.72 to touch the wall in 53.33, dipping under the standard by .22. Hopkin was a little faster in Doha, finishing 5th in the final with a time of 53.09.

Hitting her second personal best on the day was 17-year-old Eva Okaro. Okaro was 54.60 this morning and lopped off another .14 to win her 2nd silver medal of the meet with a time of 54.46. A little behind her in winning the bronze medal was Freya Anderson, who touched in 54.59 after having swum 55.01 this morning.

The cumulative time of the aforementioned three and Freya Colbert‘s 55.10 adds up to 3:37.48, meaning they are over a second off the nomination standard. At the 2023 Worlds, the team of Hopkin, Lucy Hope, Abbie Wood and Freya Anderson placed 4th and set a national record of 3:33.90, so the relay certainly could be in contention but will need all of the legs to be on form.

With Hopkin’s 53.33, it also appears that the women’s 4×100 medley will fall short of the nomination standard. Adding up her time with Dawson’s backstroke (59.74), Evans’s breaststroke (1:06.54), and Keanna Macinnes‘ butterfly (57.92), the cumulative time is 3:57.53, but heir target time was 3:56.89.

Men’s 200 Freestyle – Finals

• World Record: 1:42.00 – Paul Biedermann, Germany (2009)
• British Record: 1:44.22 – Thomas Dean (2021)
• 2021 Champion: Duncan Scott – 1:44.47
• Nomination Standard: 1:45.96
• 4×200 Nomination Standard: 7:07.40
• OLY A/B Standards: 1:57.26/1:57.85

Top 8:

1. Matt Richards (Millfield) – 1:44.69
2. Duncan Scott (Uni of Stirling) – 1:44.75
3. Tom Dean (Bath PC) – 1:45.09
4. James Guy (Millfield) – 1:45.28
5. Jack McMillan (Uni of Stirling) – 1:46.19
6. Kieran Bird (Bath PC) – 1:46.99
7. Luke Turley (Bath PC) – 1:47.75
8. Joe Litchfield (L’borogh PC) – 1:49.73

A teaser for the final swim of the evening: Will Ellard in the Para-Paris Final equaled the World Record in the S14 200 Freestyle. The newly 18-year-old, Ellard, hit the wall in 1:52.40, tying Great Britain’s Reece Dunn’s 1:52.40 from the Tokyo Paralympic Games.

And now for the final race of the meet…

For a time, it looked like both the reigning Olympic gold and silver medalists in the 200 free would be unable to defend their podium positions as James Guy took the race out hard. Guy, a five-time Olympic relay medalist, flipped at the 100 turn in 50.58, leading out Matthew Richards who was the only other swimmer under 51, hitting the wall in 50.85.

Richards gained only .10 on Guy over the 3rd length, so with less than 50 meters, both Duncan Scott and Thomas Dean seemed to be on the outs. However, Guy’s attack-early strategy started to catch up to him as he faded from 1st to 4th, coming home in 27.72.

With Guy falling off the pace, Richards moved into first but came under pressure from both Scott and Dean as the pair surged to the wall. Richards got his hand to the wall in 1:44.69, just .06 ahead of Scott, who came home in 26.68, while Dean used a 26.86 to close the gap and take bronze.

Scott was the only one of the four who swam the event at the 2024 World Champs in Doha, finishing 6th in 1:45.86. His time tonight marks a great improvement and puts him within half a second of his Scottish record and Olympic time of 1:44.26.

The top four’s times tonight add up to 6:59.81, well under the standard of 7:07.40 (meaning all four will go to Paris via the “Chunnel”) and just a little more than a second off the world record of 6:58.55 set by the USA at the 2009 Rome World Championships. The same grouping’s time from the Tokyo Olympics, 6:58.58, is the fastest textile suit record and ranks 3rd all time. Just last year in Fukuoka, the group swam 6:59.08, the fourth fastest performance ever, so the world is on notice.

All four jump into the top 10 of the world rankings, with Richards, who also won the was 2nd in the 50 and won the 100 free, sitting #2 in the season and first in the calendar year.