2025 Aquatics GB Swimming Championships: Day 6 Finals Live Recap

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 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6
  • Finals: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5

After a week of intense racing, we’ve reached the end of the 2025 Aquatics GB Swimming Championships. Tonight represents swimmers last chance to make their case to be on the plane for the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore.

Tonight’s session begins with the men’s 50 butterfly, where Ben Proud, Jacob Peters, and Jack Brown face off. Proud won the men’s 50 freestyle in London this week and is a former World Champion in this event. Meanwhile, Peters comes in as the top seed and 17-year-old Brown made waves this week with a 51.87 in the 100 butterfly.

Later, the action shifts to the men’s 200 backstroke. There, Oliver Morgan aims for a backstroke sweep. He’s been on fire this weekend and qualified as the second seed (1:59.33) behind Olympic medalist Luke Greenbank (1:57.92). Greenbank leads the field by over a second and the Worlds consideration time is 1:57.28, so Morgan will have his work cut out for him. The top four men were all under 2:00 this morning as Jonny Marshall (1:59.33) tied with Morgan and Matthew Ward clocked 1:59.63.

After the 800 freestyle fastest heat, the women’s events turn towards the sprints. Angharad Evans hit a lifetime best 2:21.86 in the 200 breaststroke to punch her ticket to Worlds. It was an exciting swim that also built the hype for her 100 breaststroke, where she’s the British record holder. Then, veteran Freya Anderson and rising star Eva Okaro go head-t0-head in the 100 freestyle. Anderson comes in as the top seed (54.37) and is looking to bounce back after missing the 200 freestyle ‘A’ final this week. Okaro has been having the opposite week, building confidence and qualifying for Worlds, and joined Anderson sub-55 seconds this morning (54.95).

The meet closes with the men’s 200 freestyle final. Matt Richards is already pre-qualified for Worlds in this race, leaving one individual qualification spot open for the rest of the field. Duncan Scott looks well-positioned to take it, he’s been swimming strong all week–setting a 200 butterfly British record–and qualified second for the final in 1:47.31. But, James Guy was out like a shot during his 400 freestyle at the beginning of the week and leads the into the final with a 1:46.85 prelims swim.

Men’s 50-Meter Butterfly

Junior Final

• British Record: 22.75 — Ben Proud (2017)
• British Junior Record: 23.10 — Ben Proud (2013)

Top 3:

1. Ethan Soppett-Moss, Corby — 24.56
2. Chengze Duan, RTW Monson — 24.59
3. Matthew Hamilton, Plymouth — 24.61

Ethan Soppett-Moss earned the first win of the last session at the 2025 Aquatics GB Swimming Championships. He pipped Chengze Duan by three-hundredths to win the 50 butterfly junior final, stopping the clock at 24.56.

It was a close final all around, as Duan got his hands on the wall two-hundredths ahead of Matthew Hamilton‘s 24.61.

Multi-Class Para Final

• S6 British Record: 32.01 — Sascha Kindred (2015)

Top 3:

1. Bruce Dee, Northampton (S6) — 33.75 (738 points)

Bruce Dee was the lone racer in this multi-class para final. He’s been on the podium multiple times throughout this week and picked up another medal by winning gold in the 50 butterfly. He swam a lifetime best 33.75 to take home the win, earning 738 para points.

British Open Final

• World Record: 22.27 — Andriy Govorov, Ukraine (2018)
• European Record: 22.27 — Andriy Govorov, Ukraine (2018)
• British Record: 22.75 — Ben Proud (2017)
• Aquatics GB 2025 Worlds Consideration Time: —

Top 3:

1. Ben Proud, Chelsea & Westminster — 23.21
2. Jacob Peters, Bath PC /Josh Gammon, Bath PC — 23.44
3. (tie)

A long finish nearly cost Ben Proud the win in the race, but he’d done enough work over the one length of butterfly to earn gold in the British Open final of the men’s 50 butterfly. It’s his second win of the week, he won the 50 freestyle earlier this week. Proud called the time, a 23.21, a “very standard” one for this point in the season after the race.

Over two-tenths behind Proud, Jacob Peters and Josh Gammon tied for the silver medal at 23.44.

Women’s 800-Meter Freestyle

British Open — Fastest Heat

• World Record: 8:04.79 — Katie Ledecky, United States (2016)
• European Record: 8:14.10 — Rebecca Adlington, Great Britain (2008)
• British Record: 8:14.10 — Rebecca Adlington, Great Britain (2008)
• Aquatics GB 2025 Worlds Consideration Time: 8:25.84

Top 3:

1. Amelie Blocksidge, Salford — 8:37.85
2. Fleur Lewis, Loughborough Uni — 8:42.34
3. Lucy Fox, Loughborough PC — 8:47.29

Teenager Amelie Blocksidge controlled the fastest heat of the women’s 800 freestyle. It was the opposite strategy from the one she used in the 400 freestyle earlier in the week, where she was right at the back of the field until the second half of the race. In that race, she just ran out of room to chase down Megan Barnes. But Blocksidge is most comfortable in the distance freestyle events and was in a race against the clock as she charged ahead of the 800 freestyle field.

She flipped at the halfway mark in 4:16.88, then maintained her lead over the second 400 meters, taking the win in 8:37.95. She defended her British title in this race from a year ago and completed the distance freestyle sweep with the win.

Over the back half of the race, Fleur Lewis disengaged from her battle with Lucy Fox and broke away from the field as well. She didn’t challenge Blocksidge for the win, but comfortably picked up the silver medal in

Men’s 200-Meter Backstroke

Junior Final

• British Record: 1:54.43 — Luke Greenbank (2021)
• British Junior Record: 1:56.89 — Luke Greenbank (2015)

Top 3:

1. Dean Fearn, Aberdeen — 2:01.67
2. Daniel Ransom, Leeds — 2:01.68
3. Finlay Pope, Stockport — 2:02.25

Up in lane two, Toby Godsell had the lead at the 100-meter mark, holding about a three-tenth lead. He maintained his lead at the 150-meter mark. He was overtaken down the stretch as four swimmers charged on the last length.

It came down to the touch, but Dean Fearn came up with the win by a hundredth over the 100 backstroke junior final winner Daniel Ransom. The pair swam 2:01.67 and 2:01.68 and were both under the consideration time for European Juniors.

Stockport’s Finlay Pope took third in the final with a 2:02.25, while Godspell finished fifth in 2:02.57 after a gutsy opening.

British Open Final

• World Record: 1:51.92 — Aaron Piersol, United States (2009)
• European Record: 1:53.23 — Evgeny Rylov, Russia (2021)
• British Record: 1:54.43 — Luke Greenbank (2021)
• Aquatics GB 2025 Worlds Consideration Time: 1:57.28

Top 3:

1. Oliver Morgan, Birmingham — 1:55.55 *Worlds Consideration Time* 
2. Luke Greenbank, Loughborough — 1:56.20 *Worlds Consideration Time*
3. Jonny Marshall, Carnegie — 1:58.31

Ollie Morgan completed the backstroke sweep at this week’s championships by winning the 200 backstroke in thrilling fashion. Morgan was lights out from the start of the race, opening in a 26.13, almost a second ahead of the rest of the field.

Morgan continued to charge, flipping at the 100-mark in 54.78, well under Luke Greenbank‘s British record pace. In the lane next to him, Greenbank was running third at the halfway point, behind Morgan and Jonny Marshall. Morgan was still under British record pace with 50-meters remaining. He lost touch with the pace on the final 50 meters but was far enough ahead to win by .65 seconds, even as Greenbank mounted a charge on the back half of the race.

Morgan swam a lifetime best 1:55.55 that makes him the second-fastest British performer in event history, behind only Greenbank. The swim was well under the Aquatics GB consideration time and Greenbank joined him under that cut with a 1:56.20. Greenbank got back in the water in January and since he finished second isn’t automatically qualified for the Worlds team, but it would be a shock if the organizers left him off the roster after he cleared the cut by over a second.

Marshall got on his third backstroke podium of the week with a 1:58.31.

Women’s 100-Meter Breaststroke

Junior Final

• British Record: 1:05.54 — Angharad Evans (2024)
• British Junior Record: 1:06.35 — Sophie Taylor (2014)

Top 3:

1. Imogen Myles, Sevenoaks — 1:10.16
2. Charlotte Hardy, Millfield — 1:10.28
3. Gabrielle Idle-Beavers, Mt. Kelly — 1:10.73

Gabrielle Idle-Beavers had the lead at the turn of the girls’ 100 breaststroke junior final. Imogen Myles was the only swimmer to go out with Idle-Beavers under 33 seconds, turning .15 seconds behind Idle-Beavers’ opening 32.69 split.

Myles struck on the closing meters, timing her race well and getting her hands on the wall first. She touched in 1:10.16 while Charlotte Hardy closed strong as well to place second in 1:10.28. Idle-Beavers held on for a top three position in 1:10.73.

Multi-Class Para Final

• SB7 British Record: 1:29.69 — Iona Winnifrith (2024)
• SB8 British Record: 1:13.83 — Brock Whiston (2019)
• SB13 British Record: 1:13.81 — Rebecca Redfern (2019)
• SB14 British Record: 1:12.89 — Bethany Firth (2016)

Top 3:

1. Rebecca Redfern, Worcester (SB13) — 1:14.27 (993 points)
2. Iona Winnifrith, Tonbridge (SB7) — 1:30.21 (869 points)
3. Brock Whiston, London Dis (SB8) — 1:20.82 (858 points)

Paralympic champion Rebecca Redfearn picked up the win in the multi-class para final of the women’s 100 breaststroke. She swam 1:14.27, coming within a second of her SB13 British record and going faster than she went to win Paralympic gold in her classification this summer in Paris.

Iona Winnifrith, the SB7 British record holder, was also within a second of her standard as she picked up the silver medal. She swam a 1:30.61, which earned her 869 points, nine more than Brock Whiston. Whiston earned bronze and was under the Para Worlds consideration time for the SB8 classification.

British Open Final:

• World Record: 1:04.13 — Lilly King, United States (2017)
• European Record: 1:04.35 — Rūta Meilutyte, Lithuania (2013)
• British Record: 1:05.54 — Angharad Evans (2024)
• Aquatics GB 2025 Worlds Consideration Time: 1:06.31

Top 3:

1. Angharad Evans, Stirling — 1:05.37 *British Record, Worlds Consideration Time* 
2. Kara Hanlon, Edinburgh — 1:06.93
3. Anna Morgan, Edinburgh — 1:08.39

Angharad Evans took down her 100 breaststroke British record in the same pool where she broke it last year. After qualifying for the Worlds team in the 200 breaststroke earlier this week, Evans said before the race she wasn’t feeling any pressure ahead of this race.

Evans quickly asserted herself in this race. She turned over five-tenths ahead of the field in 31.05, just two-hundredths off British record pace. She did all the work to get under the record on the second half of her race, coming home in 34.32 to break her standard with a 1:05.37.

Additionally, the swim makes her the fastest female 100 breaststroker in the world this season ahead of the 1:05.82 Anita Bottazzo swam last week.

Edinburgh teammates Kara Hanlon and Anna Morgan share the podium again this week, now going 2-3 in the 100 breaststroke. Hanlon swam 1:06.93, while Morgan clocked 1:08.39.

Women’s 100-Meter Freestyle

Junior Final

• British Record: 52.75 — Anna Hopkin (2021)
• British Junior Record: 53.31 — Freya Anderson (2019)

Top 3:

1. Skye Carter, Basildon – 55.64
2. Annabelle Compton, Wycombe – 55.70
3. Emma Wood, Leeds – 55.78

Skye Carter has had a strong week in London, finding success in both junior and British Open finals. She added to this week’s resume by closing strongly and getting the win in the girls’ junior 100 freestyle final. She hit the wall in 55.64, right on her lifetime best.

Annabelle Compton earned second from lane two, six-hundredths behind Carter with a 55.70. Leeds’ Emma Wood touched third in 55.78.

Multi-Class Para Final

• S5 British Record: 1:11.71 — Tully Kearney (2022)
• S9 British Record: 1:03.00 — Toni Shaw (2019)
• S10 British Record: 1:01.00 — Faye Rodgers (2025)
• S11 British Record: 1:10.42 — Scarlett Humphrey (2025)
• S12 British Record: 58.94 — Hannah Russell (2016)

Top 3:

1. Faye Rodgers, Aberdeen (S10) — 1:01.10 (861 points)
2. Callie-Ann Warrington, RTW Monson (S10) — 1:02.33 (811 points)
3. Scarlett Humphrey, Northampton (S11) — 1:10.31 (775 points) *S11 British Record* 

It was a great race between S10 swimmers Faye Rodgers and Callie-Ann Warrington. In prelims, Rodgers broke Warrington’s 100 freestyle S10 British Record, swimming a 1:01.00. She was a tenth off that time in tonight’s final, which she put down to her finish post-race, as she swam away from sprint-specialist Warrington down the stretch.

Rodgers’ time wins her the multi-class para British title in this race with 861 points, while Warrington earned silver with 811 points (1:02.33).

Scarlett Humphrey has been rattling her British records all week and took one down here in the 100 freestyle. She broke the 100 freestyle S11 record she swam earlier this year, posting a 1:10.31, bettering the mark by nine-hundredths as she won bronze with 775 points.

British Open Final

• World Record: 51.71 — Sarah Sjöström, Sweden (2017)
• European Record: 51.71 — Sarah Sjöström, Sweden (2017)
• British Record: 52.75 — Anna Hopkin (2021)
• Aquatics GB 2025 Worlds Consideration Time: 53.55

Top 4:

1. Freya Anderson, Bath PC — 54.09
2. Eva Okaro, Repton — 54.10
3. Freya Colbert, Loughborough — 54.54
4. Theodora Taylor, Torfaen — 54.59

Sprint specialist Eva Okaro took the 100 freestyle final out first, flipping in 26.13. Freya Anderson was running second in 26.22 and pushed on the back half of the race. She got her hand on the wall a hundredth ahead of Okaro to win the British title, 54.09 to 54.10.

No one made the Aquatics GB Worlds Consideration time for the individual event and the times do not add up to the Aquatics GB qualification time, though the organizers could opt to send the relay anyway. That would give Freya Colbert another swim in what’s turning into a busy Worlds for her. It would also send 16-year-old Theodora Taylor to Singapore, who had a big swim out of lane eight to finish fourth in 54.59, five-hundredths behind Colbert.

Men’s 200-Meter Freestyle

Junior Final

• British Record: 1:44.22 — Tom Dean (2021)
• British Junior Record: 1:45.77 — Matt Richards (2021)

Top 3:

1. Hayden Annan, RTW Monson — 1:50.06
2. Jacob Mills, Repton — 1:50.08
3. Gabriel Shepherd, Leeds — 1:50.41

Hayden Annan won the boys’ 200 freestyle junior final by two-hundredths ahead of Jacob Mills, who has been having an excellent week, getting under the Worlds consideration time in the 100 freestyle with a 48.03. Annan’s 1:50.06 was a lifetime best for him, as was Mills’ 1:50.08.

The top three swimmers were all sub-1:51 as Gabriel Shepherd touched in 1:50.41.

Multi-Class Para Final

• S14 British Record: 1:51.30 — William Ellard (2024)

Top 3:

1. William Ellard, Norwich (S14) — 1:53.38 (945 points)
2. Dylan Broom, Swansea (S14) — 1:58.38 (831 points)
3. Mark Tompsett, Bolton (S14) — 2:02.24 (754 points)

William Ellard, the 200 freestyle S14 Paralympic champion, picked up the British title in the event with a 1:53.38. Ellard was outside of the 200 freestyle S14 world record he set last spring in Berlin but got under the consideration time for the 2025 Para World Swimming Championships later this summer.

Ellard flew away from the field for the win in the all S14 final, but Dylan Broom was able to join Ellard under the 2:00 mark, swimming a 1:58.38 for 831 points and the silver medal. Mark Tompsett, who took down the 100 backstroke S14 European record earlier this week, earned medal by swimming 2:02.24 and picking up 754 points for a bronze medal.

British Open Final

• World Record: 1:42.00 — Paul Biedermann, Germany (2009)
• European Record: 1:42.00 — Paul Biedermann, Germany (2009)
• British Record: 1:44.22 — Tom Dean (2021)
• Aquatics GB 2025 Worlds Consideration Time: 1:45.96

Top 4:

1. Duncan Scott, Stirling/James Guy, Manchester — 1:45.08
2. (tie)
3. Matt Richards, Manchester — 1:45.35
4. Jack McMillan, Stirling — 1:46.49

Duncan Scott and James Guy had the chance to do the funniest thing possible and they did just that. With only one individual 200 freestyle spot available because Matt Richards was pre-selected to the event after winning Olympic silver in Paris, Scott and Guy tied for the gold in the men’s 200 freestyle final.

Both will go to Singapore as the men’s 4×200 freestyle relay qualified for the World Championships, but it’s an open question as to how the organizers will break the tie. The posted selection criteria for the championships does not specify how to handle a tie in this situation.

It was a thrilling race well before the final result though. Richards was out like a shot, turning at the 50 in 23.65 and the 100 in 49.80, well under British record pace. Alex Painter, swimming next to Richards in lane 8, was second at the 50 but Guy, then Scott overtook him by the halfway mark.

Richards still led at the 150-mark in 1:16.65, with Scott moving into second ahead of Guy. In the middle of the pool, both Scott and Guy hunted Richards down on the final 50 meters and hit the wall together in 1:45.08. They are now tied for third-fastest in the world this season.

Richards said after the race he would never take the race out that fast again and touched third in 1:45.35 with Scott’s Stirling training parter Jack McMillan touching fourth. McMillan contributed to the British men’s 4×200 freestyle relay gold by swimming in prelims in Paris and will now help the team chase gold in Singapore.