40 British Swimmers Are Budapest Bound, With 12 Seeking OLY Qualification

On the heels of British Swimming announcing its initial 28-strong roster for the Olympic Games, the organization has also just revealed the lineup for next month’s European Championships.

According to the nation’s selection policy swimmers still have the chance to qualify to represent GBR in Tokyo this summer if they’re able to hit the established federation standards for an event in which there is an empty slot. The women’s 50m free and men’s 100m back fall into this category, for example.

That means, of the 40-strong European Championships roster, the 12 that have not yet achieved Olympian status will have the chance to snag their spot in Budapest May 17th – 23rd. For those already having been officially named to the Tokyo roster, Euros will serve as a chance for an elite tune-up in anticipation of July’s main event.

Key swimmers seeking qualification include Ed Mildred, Holly Hibbott and Lucy Hope. Mildred placed 3rd in the men’s 200m butterfly at Trials, producing a time of 1:58.04, while Hope wrangled up a trio of podium finishes in London. The Scot logged lifetime bests across the 50m, 100m and 200m freestyles, cracking a Scottish record in the 100m distance.

Finally, for Hibbott, the former Stockport Metro athlete fell short in the 400m free at Trials but has proven she can clinch the stiff 4:05.96 British qualification standard in the event. She owns a lifetime best of 4:05.01 as GBR’s 4th fastest woman all-time, which she posted  at the 2018 European Championships when she took 4th. She is also the reigning Commonwealth Games silver medalist, having hit 4:05.31 in 2018 on the Gold Coast.

National Performance Director Chris Spice said of this Budapest roster,

“This event comes at an opportune moment as we step up our final preparations for Tokyo, bringing the team together for the first time since our announcement on Tuesday.

“Whilst we have enjoyed the experience of domestic racing with the recent Selection Trials and the two meets in Manchester before that, this will be our first time back in international competition in over a year. This will be another big step forward, and we fully support and thank LEN and our fellow European national teams for committing to this important racing opportunity. We are confident that the protocols and guidance will be in place to ensure the safest possible environment for our athletes, coaches and support staff.

“The European Championships are also another important element in our Olympic selection policy, so the week of racing will be an opportunity for some athletes to put in the performances they need to and that we know they are capable of. It is also a key chance to test out our relay squads and seek Olympic qualification where necessary, whilst for the younger members of the squad, it will be a valuable learning experience on their journey into Paris 2024 and beyond.”

 

Olympic-qualified athletes

Freya Anderson – England, Bath National Centre

Kieran Bird – Wales, Bath National Centre

Kathleen Dawson – Scotland, University of Stirling

Tom Dean – England, Bath National Centre

Luke Greenbank – England, Loughborough National Centre

James Guy – England, Bath National Centre

Anna Hopkin – England, Loughborough National Centre

Calum Jarvis – Wales, Bath National Centre

Dan Jervis – Wales, Swansea University

Harriet Jones – Wales, City of Cardiff

Joe Litchfield – England, Loughborough National Centre

Max Litchfield – England, Loughborough National Centre

Ross Murdoch – Scotland, University of Stirling

Adam Peaty – England, Loughborough National Centre

Jacob Peters – England, Bath National Centre

Ben Proud – England, Bath University

Molly Renshaw – England, Loughborough National Centre

Matthew Richards – Wales, Bath National Centre

Duncan Scott – Scotland, University of Stirling

Alys Thomas – Wales, Swansea University

Sarah Vasey – England, Loughborough National Centre

Jacob Whittle – England, Derventio Excel

James Wilby – England, Loughborough National Centre

Cassie Wild – Scotland, University of Stirling

Brodie Williams – England, Bath National Centre

Aimee Willmott – England, University of Stirling

Alicia Wilson – England, Guildford City

Abbie Wood – England, Loughborough National Centre

European athletes

Elliot Clogg – England, Loughborough National Centre

Evelyn Davis – Scotland, Bromley

Holly Hibbott – England, Bath National Centre

Lucy Hope – Scotland, Edinburgh University

Emily Large – England, Bath National Centre

Keanna MacInnes – Scotland, University of Stirling

James McFadzen – England, Loughborough University

Ed Mildred – England, Northampton SC

Emma Russell – Scotland, University of Stirling

Katie Shanahan – Scotland, City of Glasgow SC

Laura Stephens – England, Plymouth Leander

Tamryn Van Selm – England, Millfield

European marathon swimming athletes

Emily Clarke – England, Loughborough University

Hector Pardoe – England, Ellesmere College Titans

Toby Robinson – England, Loughborough National Centre

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Swammer
2 years ago

Dont’t think they will fill many of the olympic spots left a Euros as they won’t be tapered. Thought they might take Lily Booker for 400IM as she has done well in this event at the two Manchester meets and at Trials whereas Shanahan was off her best at Manchester meets and trials as was Glennister. Surprised they haven’t taken her as she was one of their hidden gems obviously olbrech not working for her in Stirling! Very unfair for Jay hopefully he will show them at the Glasgow meet and get the time there

Thomas Selig
2 years ago

Agree with the comments that Leliott can feel somewhat hard done by. Then again, assuming Mildred doesn’t hit the time in Budapest, Leliott presumably will be able to have one last crack in Glasgow in June, so he’s not right out of it yet.

No Kurle either. I guess the selectors are happy with their 4×200 relay options as they are (and why not?). A bit unfortunate, but really just a victim of GB’s excellent depth in that event.

Robinson focusing on open water apparently.

Personally, I’m quite happy they’ve gone with youth more often than not. It will be excellent experience for the likes of Van Selm, Mildred, Shanahan and so on, and while they didn’t perhaps quite have… Read more »

Dee
Reply to  Thomas Selig
2 years ago

2008.

The only relay in which we failed to final was by far our strongest, the womens 4×2, after we went too risky in the heats and missed out.

Sapnu puas
Reply to  Dee
2 years ago

*war flashbacks*

Iain
Reply to  Dee
2 years ago

2012 as well

Iain
2 years ago

I’m surprised Katy Shanahan got a pick, and I think Lelliott can feel hard done by, but apart from that it’s basically as expected

Same old BS
2 years ago

So many questions…but can all be answered with: “We do what we want”. They had to add a few of the names they pinned their hopes on over the last few years, be they junior or just over that age group. You’d think these kids were vying for places on the Figure Skating team in front of corrupt judges rather then just finishing in the top 2 (individual) or 6 (free relays).

Jack
2 years ago

There is alot of Relatively big british names in big set ups that are didn’t make this team, some unsurprisingly, some because their events are already full but still don’t get the chance with the europeans 4 swimmers in the heats rule: Hannah Miley, Georgia Davis, Jocelyn Ullyett, Imogen Clark, Kayla Van-Der Merwe, Scott McLay, Harriet West, Mark Szaranek – alot of which have recent world experience and medals.

Im suprised at some people who haven’t been picked to possibly prove themselves in relays in the form of Cameron Kurle, Isabella Hindley and Candice Hall. All wouldn’t need to drop large amounts of times from trials to be competitive in british relays.

To me, one of the biggest shock is… Read more »

5wimmer
Reply to  Jack
2 years ago

I’m very surprised by them not taking Jay, a 1.56 is no joke and would be undoubtedly be more likely to hit the time in a competitive euros

TheSwimSuitGuy
Reply to  5wimmer
2 years ago

Gutted about Jay

AnEn
Reply to  5wimmer
2 years ago

Why would he be more likely to hit the time there? He trained to be at his best at the british trials, so if anything you would expect him to be slower at the euros. I would have maybe understood it if he would have finished far ahead of everyone else at british trials, but he didn’t. If he would have had it in him, he probably would have done it there with Guy as competition. I don’t know why they didn’t nominate him, but personally i think that it would have been nice to also look at the european championships as a consolation price for those athletes who failed to qualify for the olympics and therefore to nominate him.… Read more »

Jess
Reply to  AnEn
2 years ago

I’d normally agree with thay but if you have the opportunity to go to the Olympics but only can if you swim faster at the euros then i think the Euros (only for swimmers who haven’t already qualified) would become a priority meet with as much as a taper as they can get. If they don’t re-taper with the aim to taper at Olympics they just wont swim fast enough to even go there.

Don’t get me wrong i think it will be less than like 10% of all swims will be faster than at trials but i do think some will swim faster – people may have had off days, injuries like greenbank or just misjudged their taper at… Read more »

Same old BS
Reply to  AnEn
2 years ago

Not all athletes were on level playing field at trials. While some of the swimmers had maybe 6 weeks off back in the Summer, others had to deal with constant interruptions and months out. Even the chosen Juniors were invited to train while higher ranked athletes were left dry.

Last edited 2 years ago by Same old BS
Dee
Reply to  AnEn
2 years ago

I agree, but bad swims & missed tapers happen. I remember 2014, Ben Proud went 22.3 at trials and missed qualification times – swam a few weeks later and went 21.8 to make the time, then went to Commonwealths and won gold in 21.7! A few Brits PB’d at 2016 Euros about a month after trials too. So, while logic tells you nobody should be faster, mistakes do happen at trials and giving people a 2nd chance to get remaining spots seems fair, particularly during covid.

Last edited 2 years ago by Dee
Thomas Selig
Reply to  Dee
2 years ago

“bad swims […] happen”

Stephens in the 200 fly being a good example. I didn’t look it up, but fairly sure she had swum faster at the intra-squad Manchester meets earlier. Had a big PB in the 100 fly at Trials, so the form seemed to be there. Looked really solid in the heats. Then just a bad swim in the final. It happens, and hopefully she can go to Euros and nail a solid CT to make the team.

Swim jimjam
Reply to  AnEn
2 years ago

Due to Covid jay hadn’t been training for the trials, he was targeting a meet later in the year. The swim he did at trials was outstanding and should be considered to take him to the euros. To confirm Jay finished in second place and was 2sec infront of third who will be attending the meet. It’s seems a little unfair he won’t attend….

Lola
Reply to  5wimmer
2 years ago

I don’t understand how they can justify Mildred over Jay. It should be based on times swum, not on age and whether they are funded or not.

About Retta Race

Retta Race

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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