An additional 24 swimmers have officially been named to the British Swimming roster for this summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, bringing the total up to 28 for the postponed 2020 Games.
Four swimmers had already been named to the lineup based on their performances at the 2019 FINA World Championships. That included the quad of Duncan Scott, James Wilby, Adam Peaty and Luke Greenbank. However, we now have a clearer picture of the type of power the British arsenal will be carrying to Tokyo, both on the men’s and women’s sides with the addition of both young guns and veterans.
The additional 24 athletes were named as a result of having achieved qualification times and placements at the British Olympic Selection Trials, which took place earlier this month. The British Swimming organization also selected one athlete, Calum Jarvis, using their discretionary power.
However, the roster is not a done deal, with more names having the ability to be potentially added based on future performances through the qualification window.
Among the newly-named Tokyo Olympians are Kathleen Dawson, the University of Stirling star who fired off the best times of her career in the 100m and 200m backstroke events. Two-time European Short Course champion Freya Anderson also proved worthy in the 100m and 200m freestyle races, while Molly Renshaw‘s 200m breaststroke national record will allow her to potentially improve upon her 6th place finish from Rio.
In terms of age range, Swansea-based Alys Thomas will be making her Olympic debut at the age of 30, while relay member Jacob Whittle has made the grade at just 16. Matt Richards is another young gun at just 18 years of age, having placed 2nd in the 100m free event.
On the roster, Team GB Chef de Mission for Tokyo 2020, Mark England, commented,
“In the space of less than a week we have seen the number of Team GB athletes selected for Tokyo jump from 74, which is incredibly exciting and demonstrates just how much the momentum is growing as we edge closer to 23rd July.
“The quality of this team is exceptionally high and the recent selection trials illustrated how dedicated each swimmer has been to earning their selection for Tokyo throughout what has undoubtedly been a very challenging period. Congratulations to everyone and we look forward to watching you all in action in Tokyo.”
British Swimming Performance Director and Swimming Team Leader for Tokyo, Chris Spice, said,“What an amazing week of racing we just witnessed at the iconic London Aquatics Centre. We had several stand out performances and personal bests at every turn. We have over 40% athletes on the team that were not with us at our last World Championships in 2019 which demonstrates the outstanding work coaches and support staff across Britain have done keeping these athletes training to the highest of levels in very challenging circumstances during the last 18 months.
“Of course, our work has only just begun and we now turn our attention to swimming faster in the summer which I know every athlete on this team is capable of. If we do this, I am sure we can have a very successful Tokyo Games.”
Great Britain finished in 6th place in the overall medal table at the last Olympic Games in Rio, having claimed one gold and 5 silver medals. Peaty represented the sole Olympic gold medalist, while now-retired Jazz Carlin took 400m and 800m free silver. Siobhan-Marie O’Connor also reaped silver in the 200m IM; she did not participate in the British Olympic Trials and has said her future is unknown at this point.
British Swimming Roster for Postponed 2020 Olympic Games (for now):
Freya Anderson – Upton (The Wirral), Bath National Centre
Kieran Bird – Bicester, Bath National Centre
Kathleen Dawson, Warrington, University of Stirling
Tom Dean – Maidenhead, Bath National Centre
Luke Greenbank – Cockermouth, Loughborough National Centre (pre-selected in January 2021)
James Guy – Bury, Bath National Centre
Anna Hopkin – Chorley, Loughborough National Centre
Calum Jarvis – Wadebridge, Bath National Centre
Dan Jervis – Neath, Swansea University
Harriet Jones – Cardiff, City of Cardiff
Joe Litchfield – Pontefract, Loughborough National Centre
Max Litchfield – Pontefract, Loughborough National Centre
Ross Murdoch – Balloch, University of Stirling
Adam Peaty – Uttoxeter, Loughborough National Centre (pre-selected in January 2021)
Jacob Peters – Poole, Bath National Centre
Ben Proud – London, Bath University
Molly Renshaw – Mansfield, Loughborough National Centre
Matthew Richards – Droitwich, Bath National Centre
Duncan Scott – Glasgow, University of Stirling (pre-selected in January 2021)
Alys Thomas – Swansea, Swansea University
Sarah Vasey – Derby, Loughborough National Centre
Jacob Whittle – Alfreton, Derventio Excel
James Wilby – York, Loughborough National Centre (pre-selected in January 2021)
Cassie Wild – Chester, University of Stirling
Brodie Williams – Street, Bath National Centre
Aimee Willmott – Middlesborough, University of Stirling
Alicia Wilson – Tadworth, Guilford City
Abbie Wood – Buxton, Loughborough National Centre
The mens distance events are often ones that I find are overlooked always.
Both Bell and Robinson from Loughborough Uni and NC respectively along with Turley from Bath NC are all exceptional talents.
With Robinson coming down from open water this year, he is definitely more than capable of going that 1500m consideration time along with Jervis.
Also, with Bells noticeable improvement in physical stature and technique, I have no doubt that he will be a huge threat in both the 400fc and 800fc next year, most likely achieving those Olympic cut times I would have thought.
Turley has a great training base with Bird, Guy and Dean. It will be very interesting to see how fast he… Read more »
Here’s a behind the scenes look at the trials and an alternative view for some of the finals where these guys qualified!
https://youtu.be/16SUs5ISsW8
Dream team!
As expected, I think. In many ways having such a strong Trials overall has made the selectors lives simple: only one discretionary pick, Jarvis, who actually hit the individual CT in the 200 free, but finished 5th. Don’t think anyone can complain about that: solid dependable relay performer over the years and means GB can rest some swimmers in prelims.
It does mean GB are almost entering a men 4×100 free team given the selection of Whittle.
It will be interesting to see who goes to Budapest Euros. Spice said they’d take the Olympians, and I think there’s a squad limit of 40. That leaves 12 extra spots, all targeting one of the remaining 7 spots for the Olympics.… Read more »
I’d like to see James McFadzen go as well after that 1.58
Good shout that. Only issue is that his event is already full, but would be good experience for him after a real breakout Trials.
I think selection is to the team and not the event so someone could have opportunity to swim a faster time .
I wonder if the ones gunning for a time will mainly focus on Glasgow?
That way they get a solid training block in and if they make the time can hold taper to Tokyo. Harder to do the work to improve just between now and Euros and even if they make the time that’s three tapers in four months.
I suspect Euros will be the bigger focus but we’ll see – partly driven by 1) the women’s freestyle relays where both need to qualify and 2) greater likelihood of depth of competition in the distance events which are where most of the potential spots left are.
A very strong team with a good balance of youth and experience. No real surprises. Wouldn’t be totally surprised to see young Jacob Whittle get an individual swim in the 100 – I don’t think Scott will swim it, and I think Dean will go 200/400 over 100/200 given the choice.
He doesn’t have FINA A cut, so that’s only possible if he can go 48.5
Yep, Euros or Glasgow will be the opportunity 🤞🏻
Why does Calum Jarvis’ wiki say that he weighs 147kg?
Dude’s a serious unit
Hopefully the european championship teams are full of all those who were there or there abouts at trials so the olympics team can be filled as much as possible. The Woman’s 200 Fly, 400 Free, Free Relays could be the spotlight events for the last spaces so hopefully those girls can build upon their trials performances.
I’m quite surprised they didn’t use a discretionary pick for Hibbott
Would have been a surprise at this point – the only discretionary pick so far is Jarvis, as a 4x200m backup.
Remember, this is only the first wave of selections.
Yeah if they were to pick Hibbot they would also have to pick Hope to fill the 4×200 but then you may aswell pick Davis for the 4×100 and you’ll then have 31 and most of the team selected before the other opportunities even come around. If Hibbott isn’t eventually picked i think she would be the biggest suprise oversight for me, i would guess she will be going.
I think stephens will make it too
Jarvis actually qualified for the 1500m
There’s a Jarvis and a jervis. The former for the 4 x 2, the latter for the 1500.
That was Daniel Jervis not callum Jarvis
Interesting looking at the hometowns that only Scott and Proud are from big cities, it’s a team primarily made up of swimmers from towns and smaller cities.
Given there are relatively few long course pools in Britain and most of those are in the big cities, it just demonstrates that in the early years quality coaching is what really matters when it comes to developing that pipeline of talent (that said, in their later teens many of these swimmers had to drive for hours/move to boarding school to get to a decent pool).
Agree entirely – only 3 swimmers coming from London and the South East (I think) which makes up c 1/3 of UK population
Yes, only three swimmers representing clubs. The rest from National Centers or University’s.
Scott himself never actually trained in Glasgow. I think he was born there and it is often repeated in articles and on TV coverage that he is from Glasgow but I don’t think he’s ever lived there. Started off in North Ayrshire, then spent a few years with the very small team at Alloa before then moving to join the Falkirk regional team when not at boarding school.
Think this further emphasises your point that golf coaching in the early years is what matters not necessarily facilities.
Isn’t Proud from Malaysia?
No
Grew up there but originally from London, but yes his formative swimming was there (albeit in Kuala Lumpur, which isn’t small).