Who’s Training Whom in Loughborough National Title Onslaught?

2017 BRITISH SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

While elite swimmers in Great Britain have been more dispersed than ever over the last quad, with high-level training environments growing from different pockets around the country, this week in Sheffield, Loughborough has re-established itself as the epicenter of British Swimming.

Through 2 days of swimming, athletes representing Loughborough have already won 6 events, including all 4 breaststrokes raced so far. Some were expected, including Adam Peaty in the 50 and 100 breaststrokes, who recently moved there to train with his coach Mel Marshall at the National Center based out of the school. Others were less so – Jocelyn Ulyett, for example, who on Wednesday shocked a nation by dropping 5 seconds in the 200 breaststroke to qualify for the World Championships and break the British Record.

While the group has benefited from the addition of the three-time reigning British Coach of the Year Marshall to their staff after Rio, the resurgence and emergence of new talent has been a group effort.

In total, there are 5 different groups centered in 3 different subsets – 2 group affiliated with the Loughborough University team, 2 groups with the British Swimming National Centre, and 1 group based under James Gibson in Turkey. Stunningly, each of those 5 groups has a swimmer that’s won a national title this week.

There is even crossover within those groups. Some of the National Centre athletes are students, while some are full-time athletes; and some of the university-affiliated swimmers are actually alumni.

The structure is a bit complex and hard to follow, but ultimately, the magic potion, combined with natural cross-pollination and the elite atmosphere created training out of a single facility is working.

Below is a breakdown of who is training with whom.As an example of just how much of a group effort it’s been, the women’s 200 breaststroke saw 8 swimmers in the final. Ulyett and 8th-place finisher Megan Morrison both train under Ian Hulme at the Uni team; while runner-up Molly Renshaw and 5th-place finisher Abbie Wood train under David Hemmings in the National Centre.

Loughborough event winners, through Wednesday, and their coaches and affiliations are listed below. The full trials rosters of each training group is below that. In addition, Steve Bayley serves as lead coach and programme manager for the whole of the university side of the program.

Full Loughborough Squads at Trials, by Coach

Ian Hulme
Loughborough University Swimming
Adam Barrett-Loughborough Alumni
Brian O’Sullivan-Student
Beth Aitchison-Student
Megan Morrison-Student
Laura Kinley-Student
Lucy Bean-Student
Emily Crane-Student
Jocelyn Ulyett-Student
Grace Gilroy-Student
Alex Wray-Student
Joe Elwood-Loughborough Alumni
Sam Irvine-Student
James Oxborrow-Student
Conor Munn-Student
Harriet West-Student
Alex Bowen-Student
Andi Manley
Loughborough University Swimming
James Brown-Student
Daniel Hall-Student
Charlotte Atkinson-Student
Callum Barrett-Student
Fraser Minnican-Student
Nathan Wells-Student
Kev Wallbank-Student
Joe Porter-Student
Daniel Cross-Student
Craig Munden-Student
Rob Lancaster-Student
Brearnna Close-Student
Emily Clarke-Student
Mel Marshall
British SwimmingNational Centre
Adam Peaty-Fulltime athlete
Edward Baxter-Fulltime athlete
Charlotte Evans-Student
Luke Greenbank-Fulltime athlete
Sarah Vasey-Student
Harriet Cooper-Fulltime athlete
Imogen Clark-Fulltime athlete
David Hemmings
British SwimmingNational Centre
Alice Dearing-Student
Caleb Hughes-Student
Tim Shuttleworth-Student
Abbie Wood-Student
Candice Hall-Student
Emma Day-Fulltime athlete
Toby Robinson-Student
Nathan Hughes-Student
Molly Renshaw-Fulltime athlete
James Wilby-Student
James Gibson (Previously BS)
Based in Turkey with James
Georgia Davies-Fulltime athlete
Rachael Kelly- Loughborough Alumni

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korn
7 years ago

They have a lot of talent going to Uni there….probably as much as one in the USA. Surprising to me but good to see they are getting their degrees. I would hope that James Guy and Adam Peaty are getting degrees too!

CraigH
Reply to  korn
7 years ago

Would be fun to get a winter or summer dual meet scheduled between them and Texas, Cal, or Stanford.

Captain Awesome
Reply to  CraigH
7 years ago

I think in some events it could be close but in general Cal or Texas would thrash them over all. The depth in British swimming isn’t there across all events. Seems to be focused in a select few.

sven
Reply to  CraigH
7 years ago

More importantly, that would mean seeing Adam Peaty swim yards….

M K
Reply to  sven
7 years ago

49.9 100 breast please?

Reid
7 years ago

So Ben Proud is representing Plymouth Leander here, but as I understand it he’s also in Turkey training at Energy Standard under James Gibson.

KYB
7 years ago

Great article, I’ve got friends in Loughborough and I’ve still never understood it. Thanks!

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Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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