Jacob Mills, one of the summer’s breakout junior stars and the latest freestyler out of the British men’s freestyle machine, will stay home and train in England – specifically at the Aquatics GB Performance Centre in Manchester.
Aquatics GB posted a cheeky ‘commitment’ post for Mills’ September 2026 planned move to Manchester on what was National Signing Day in the US for future NCAA athletes. The post alluded to the fact that Mills reportedly talked to five high-profile college programs in the United States about moving his training ground.
Mills, 18, currently trains with the Repton Swimming Club based out of the Repton School in Repton, England. He will head about 75 miles (120km) Northwest to train at the Manchester Performance Center alongside British Olympians and star freestylers like Matt Richards and James Guy.
Other members of the 2025 World Championship squad who train in Manchester include Ed Mildred, Leah Schlosshan, Evan Jones, and Emily Richards. Ryan Livingstone took on the role of lead coach in Manchester after the Paris Olympic Games.
Mills won his first major international junior medal at the 2024 European Junior Championships as part of the British 400 free relay that took bronze. His 2025 season was the big break through though; at the British Swimming Championships in London in April, he swam 48.11 in heats of the 100 free to break the British Age Records for both 17 and 18 year olds. In the final, he finished 2nd behind his future training partner Matt Richards to qualify for the World Championships.
At that meet, he finished 28th in the 50 free and 23rd in the 100 free. He also swam a leg of the British 400 free relay in both prelims and finals. He led off in 48.51 in the final as Britain finished 4th.
Love a little friendly jab from across the pond!
You mean he’s not going to Florida? I thought they can get all those British boys
Bummer as an NCAA fan but I bet the British swim fans are hyped