Adam Peaty, Jazz Carlin Among Great Britain’s 2015 Worlds Team Roster

The 2015 FINA World Championships roster for British Swimming has been released and the team is certainly not lacking on talent. The team of 30 features the biggest names on the British squad, who have been putting the world on notice with several statement swims at the British World Trials earlier this month.

After setting a new world record in the men’s 100m breaststroke in smashing style, Adam Peaty was a shoe-in for a place atop the roster.  Peaty also dominated the 50m and 200m distances of his stroke specialty at those trials, where he cranked out the world’s 1st and 2nd-ranked swims, respectively.  With no swimmer from Great Britain making the 100m breaststroke final at 2013 Worlds, Peaty’s upward trajectory carries major momentum for the team going into the 2015 edition of the meet.

On his inclusion on the roster, Peaty told the press, “I’m excited and proud to make my first full, world championship team and to represent my country in one of the biggest international arenas. I was pleased with my performances to make the team but you can’t stop there. I know there are improvements I can still make and these are what I will be working on as I focus on the World Championships.”

Freestyle sensation Jazz Carlin is also a dominating mover and shaker on the roster, claiming victories in the 200m, 400m and 800m free races at British Nats.  Overcoming illness and injury in 2011, which resulted in missing out on the 2012 London Olympics, Carlin placed 4th in the 400m in 2013, but finished in gut-wrenching 9th place in both the 800m and 1500m freestyles, just out of final contention.  Based on her recent world-ranking performances, however, Carlin is back and ready to take hold of the women’s distance reigns, as she tries to manage USA’s Katie Ledecky and New Zealand’s Lauren Boyle.

Also included on the roster is Great Britain’s only medalist from the 2013 edition of the World Championships, Fran Halsall, who earned 50m freestyle bronze at that competition.  Veteran racer Liam Tancock will also be racing in Kazan, as are two University of Florida standouts Dan Wallace and Jess Thielmann.

However, a familiar name will not be joining the squad in Russia, as 2012 Olympic 200m breaststroke silver medalist Michael Jamieson, who was unable to qualify.  Jamieson finished in a disappointing 6th place in the 200m at British trials, of which he said “I took too long to get over the disappointments of last year” and admittedly has been suffering from overall under performance fueled by “self-doubt.”

Of the trials that led to the Kazan roster determination,  British Swimming Head Coach Bill Furniss said, ““It was a tough week but we saw some very good performances as both athletes and coaches rose to the challenge.”  Furniss continued, “As a result of those performances I feel we’ve got a well-balanced team with particular strength in depth across several events. The way we have selected the team has enabled us to maximize our strengths both in individual events and across the relays.”

Read Full British Swimming Statement Here

The British Swimming Team comprises:

James Guy – Millfield
Chris Walker-Hebborn – NC Bath
Adam Peaty – City of Derby
Roberto Pavoni – NC Loughborough
Jazz Carlin – NC Bath
Siobhan-Marie O’Connor – NC Bath
Hannah Miley – Garioch
Elizabeth Simmonds – NC Bath
*The athletes above gained selection after they won their event and achieved the qualification standard at the British Championships.

Thomas Laxton – Loughborough University
Calum Jarvis – NC Bath
Ross Murdoch – University of Stirling
Robbie Renwick – University of Stirling
Nick Grainger – City of Sheffield
Andrew Willis – NC Bath
Aimee Willmott – London Aquatic Centre PP
Eleanor Faulkner – City of Sheffield
Rebecca Turner – City of Sheffield
Sophie Taylor – London Aquatic Centre PP
Rachael Kelly – NC Loughborough
Francesca Halsall – NC Loughborough
Ben Proud – Plymouth Leander
Duncan Scott – University of Stirling
Lauren Quigley – Stockport Metro
Stephen Milne – Perth City
Dan Wallace – Warrender
*The athletes above gained selection after they achieved a time within 2% of the set benchmark time included within the policy (individual and relay).

Liam Tancock – NC Loughborough
Adam Barrett – NC Loughborough
Jessica Thielmann – University of Florida
Molly Renshaw – NC Loughborough
Jemma Lowe – NC Bath
*The athletes above gained selection at the discretion of the British Head Coach and National Performance Director. The criteria for these decisions included provision of relay cover and alternates to rest key athletes that have large schedules; a proven track record as a relay swimmer at major international meets; individual performances over the last 12 months and performances at the British Championships 2015.