Aquatics GB Squad Is Stacked For 2025 World Championships

2025 WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

  • Saturday, July 26th – Sunday, August 3rd (pool swimming)
  • Singapore
  • LCM (50m)
  • Meet Central

With the conclusion of the 2025 Aquatics GB Championships, the nation’s squad for this summer’s World Championships has been revealed.

A plethora of seasoned talent convenes with rising stars to give Great Britain a solid set of swimmers heading to Singapore to try to improve upon the 6th-place finish at the 2024 edition of the World Championships in Doha.

Multiple swimmers were pre-qualified as a result of their performances at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, including men’s 4x200m freestyle relay gold medalists Tom Dean, James Guy, Matt Richards and Duncan Scott.

Richards and Scott were also pre-qualified in their respective 200m free and 200m IM events, as was Ben Proud due to his silver medal-garnering performance in the men’s 50m free.

Of note, Adam Peaty was pre-qualified for the men’s 100m breast, but the 30-year-old world record holder is bypassing this summer’s World Championships.

An additional eight swimmers qualified by way of achieving the strict Aquatics GB-qualifying standards en route to gold in their respective events at the Aquatics GB Championships.

  • Freya Colbert – women’s 200m free, 400m IM
  • Angharad Evans – women’s 200m breast
  • Max Litchfield – men’s 400m IM
  • Keanna MacInnes – women’s 200m fly
  • Oliver Morgan – men’s 100m back
  • Eva Okaro – women’s 50m free
  • Katie Shanahan – women’s 200m back, 200m IM
  • Abbie Wood – women’s 200m/400m IM

Luke Greenbank, Holly McGill and Jacob Mills also qualified after placing second in their individual events in a time which beat the Aquatics GB standard:

  • Luke Greenbank – men’s 200m back
  • Holly McGill – women’s 200m back
  • Jacob Mills – men’s 50m/100m free

On another note, Matt Richards‘ wife Emily Richards of Manchester Performance Centre earned a discretionary pick. That means the newlyweds will appear on their first official Aquatics GB roster since tying the knot, making them the first-ever British husband and wife duo to represent the nation at a major international aquatics competition.

On the British roster for Singapore, Performance Director Chris Spice said, “We were treated to a week of top-quality racing at the Aquatics GB Swimming Championships, with so many Worlds selection times met and countless finals going down to the very last strokes. It is always a pleasure to see events being moved on as well, so a special mention to Angharad Evans and Oliver Morgan for their respective British records, which bode really well for the season ahead.

“This is an exciting team that genuinely combines world-class experience in the sport’s biggest arenas with a host of up-and-coming talents who we hope can gain invaluable insight in the summer, both in terms of competition but also being around our athletes and staff in a World Championship environment. As always, the focus for everyone involved is on delivering a season’s best performance in the summer, and everything we do between now and late July will be working towards that.

“Seeing how swimmers like Jacob Mills, Max Morgan and Holly McGill delivered in front of packed crowds and a TV audience at the London Aquatics Centre last week means they are already on the right track to do that. Equally, it is always promising to see the way our experienced big hitters, including Duncan Scott, Matt Richards and Abbie Wood, were able to show their class and perform strongly after some well-deserved breaks post-Paris, and that is encouraging in terms this summer, our ongoing relay prospects and the longer-term picture over the next Olympic cycle.”

The Aquatics GB swimming team for the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore:

* Titles of Aquatics GB Performance Centres are shortened to ‘Performance Centre’ in this list

  • Tom Dean, Bath Performance Centre
  • James Guy, Manchester Performance Centre
  • Ben Proud, Chelsea & Westminster Swimming Club
  • Matt Richards, Manchester Performance Centre
  • Duncan Scott, University of Stirling

The above athletes were pre-selected as per clauses 4.2 and 4.3 of the relevant selection policy, after confirmation from the GB Head Coach.

  • Freya Colbert, Loughborough Performance Centre
  • Angharad Evans, University of Stirling
  • Max Litchfield, Loughborough Performance Centre
  • Keanna MacInnes, University of Stirling
  • Oliver Morgan, University of Birmingham
  • Eva Okaro, Repton
  • Katie Shanahan, University of Stirling
  • Abbie Wood, Loughborough Performance Centre

The above athletes are selected after winning an individual event at the Aquatics GB Swimming Championships and recording a time that equals or betters the required qualifying times, as per clause 4.4 of the selection policy.

  • Luke Greenbank, Loughborough Performance Centre
  • Holly McGill, University of Stirling
  • Jacob Mills, Repton

The above athletes are selected after placing second in an individual event at the Aquatics GB Swimming Championships and recording a time that equals or betters the required qualifying times, as per clause 4.5 of the selection policy.

  • Freya Anderson, University of Stirling
  • Greg Butler, Loughborough Performance Centre
  • Lucy Hope, University of Stirling
  • Edward Mildred, Manchester Performance Centre
  • Leah Schlosshan, Manchester Performance Centre
  • Jacob Whittle, Bath Performance Centre

The above athletes are selected as part of relay combinations that equalled or bettered the required qualifying times, as per clause 4.6 of the selection policy.

  • Lauren Cox, Loughborough Performance Centre
  • Evan Jones, Manchester Performance Centre
  • Jonathon Marshall, Carnegie Swimming Club
  • Jack McMillan, University of Stirling
  • Max Morgan, Reeds Swimming Club
  • Emily Richards, Manchester Performance Centre

The above athletes are selected at the discretion of the Performance Director and GB Head Coach. These selections are based on performances at the 2025 Aquatics GB Swimming Championships; providing relay alternates for athletes with busy schedules; medal opportunities in new 50m Olympic events; and athletes that are on a trajectory to podium success at the LA 2028 Olympic Games), as per clause 4.7 of the selection policy.

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AGBswimmer
19 days ago

Never going to please everyone with discretionary selections and there will always be arguments for and against those on the fringes. I feel for Hanlon on this occasion, but with the addition of the 50m events in LA, I believe they made the right call with Cox, especially given her credentials as a former world medallist in the 50m Backstroke. Personally I agree with Jones’ selection for the 4×200. With some ageing members in that squad, it makes sense to start giving younger athletes valuable experience.

I would have liked to see Aquatics GB offer Gary Humpage a role on the coaching staff instead of defaulting to the usual faces. He coaches the athlete with the highest current FINA points… Read more »

SwimSoot
Reply to  AGBswimmer
19 days ago

Hopefully they use Gary in some way shape or form in a development sense. Get him out to watch, access to prep meets or holding camp?

Lisa Bates works from female balance, especially since the loss of Mel Marshall and whether it is right or wrong, NGB’s are under immense pressure to have women in sport.

Can’t comment on Goadby, was on WSC staff where the team swam well. So maybe he impressed.

AGBswimmer
19 days ago

You are never going to please everyone with discretionary selections and there will always be arguments for and against those on the fringes. I feel for Hanlon on this occasion, but with the addition of the 50m events in LA, I believe they made the right call with Cox, especially given her credentials as a former world medallist in the 50m Backstroke. Personally I agree with Jones’ selection for the 4×200. With some ageing members in that squad, it makes sense to start giving younger athletes valuable experience.

I would have liked to see Aquatics GB offer Gary Humpage a role on the coaching staff instead of defaulting to the usual faces. He coaches the athlete with the highest current… Read more »

Taylor
20 days ago

Really happy for Emily Richards. I wonder if Emily or Eva will try for another in season PB in the 100 fly to get the World A time aswell to add another swim, Grieve did have it so tough for her.

Got to imagine Duncan gets the 200 Free he’s more of an actual worlds medal threat as great as Guy has been.

By my reckoning our fastest medley relay on Paper is Morgan Evans Mildred Anderson which would be scary to see so wonder if it’s just given to Butler and McInnes for the inevitable waves.

Great that Cox and Marshall are given the 100 and 50 back but I struggle to see much point of Dan Jones. Assuming… Read more »

Taylor
Reply to  Taylor
20 days ago

Would have liked a Cohoon/ Painter addition after their Heats/Finals time respectively. Whittle is notoriously bad in relays and Mills is young and as such could be a range of times, we could be left 1 leg short on the day behind Scott Dean and Richards.

Alison England
Reply to  Taylor
20 days ago

Whittle could start then there’s less risk of a takeover catastrophe?

andrew garner
Reply to  Taylor
19 days ago

Dont write James Guy off hes getting faster with age

Jess
20 days ago

When they inevitably do swim the Women’s 4×100 free relay does T. Taylor have grounds to sue? 🤣

Swimmer
Reply to  Jess
19 days ago

No. They didn’t make the time. I don’t think a cock-up by announcers gives any ground for legal action where there’s a clear selection policy that hasn’t been met. There’s nothing to say a team can’t swim out of the swimmers already selected, but essentially she didn’t qualify.

Scuncan Dott v2
20 days ago

Pretty stupid to only pick 28 imo. Really unfortunate for Theodora Taylor and Kara Hanlon in particular, Theodora literally got paraded after her 100 free that she was going to Singapore (what a sh-tshow), whilst Kara was the closest swimmer to the QT in terms of percentage who was not picked for the team. Since there’s 30 spots available, I dont get why they didnt use them all and select both of them.

On the other hand, Evan Jones was really lucky to be selected for the 4×2. Did not think 1:47.6 would be quick enough for him, especially with Max Litchfield on the team as a reliable alternate.

Last edited 20 days ago by Scuncan Dott v2
Alison England
Reply to  Scuncan Dott v2
20 days ago

Yes, some odd decision making there.

SwimSoot
Reply to  Alison England
20 days ago

What were the splits of the Male athletes in the heats at Paris in the 4x200Fr?

Last edited 20 days ago by SwimSoot
SwimmA
Reply to  SwimSoot
19 days ago

1’45.0
1’45.7
1’47.7
1’46.7

Qualifying 1st with about 3 seconds to spare.

Struggling to see how 1’47.6 (1’47.4 heat) from an improving athlete with potential for LA is seen as ‘stupid’ or ‘odd’. Jones also rolled 1’47 in 2022 with a Pb of 1’49 at that point.

Last edited 19 days ago by SwimmA
TeamGB
Reply to  Scuncan Dott v2
20 days ago

Might have something to do with Evan’s surname

Alison England
Reply to  TeamGB
19 days ago

?

SwimmA
Reply to  Alison England
19 days ago

Insinuation of nepotism I imagine.

Alison England
Reply to  SwimmA
19 days ago

I gathered that. Who is his mum/dad?

SwimmA
Reply to  Alison England
19 days ago

Chris Spice?

Alison England
Reply to  SwimmA
19 days ago

Last edited 19 days ago by Alison England
Pullbuoy
Reply to  TeamGB
19 days ago

Although the person with the same surname that you are implying had an influence no longer works for AQGB so….

TeamGB
Reply to  Pullbuoy
19 days ago

Same surname because it’s his father and yes he worked there for 12 years so it helps some. Proud of Evan he had a great swim and deserves it but hard to understand why others weren’t taken for development. I think the others will get good experience at Euros though.

SwimSoot
Reply to  TeamGB
19 days ago

Out side of Taylor, who is only 15 or 16, what others would you have taken for ‘development’?

TeamGB
Reply to  SwimSoot
18 days ago

Painter for sure why have 6 for the 800 and only 4 for the 400

Scuncan Dott v2
Reply to  TeamGB
18 days ago

5 for the 4×100 after we add in Duncan tbf.

SwimSoot
Reply to  Scuncan Dott v2
18 days ago

Not sure what their angle is….

The unoriginal Tim
20 days ago

Kara Hanlon hard done by in my view and I would have taken the young lad who came second in the 100 Fly for the experience and because in three months he’s likely to be beating Mildred who is fully exposed.

Scuncan Dott v2
Reply to  The unoriginal Tim
20 days ago

tbf Jack Brown doesn’t have an A cut in any event, so if he were picked he’d only be able to swim a relay. Not worth the risk when we also have Dunks as potential cover for the Fly leg of the relay.

SwimmA
Reply to  The unoriginal Tim
19 days ago

I think her underperformance in the 100Br may have cost her. I can’t see Evens being used in Mixed Medley, M Morgan can swap in and be benchmarked against Butler for men’s spot without too much risk to overall outcome.

Cox could and should improve the women’s medley.

Taylor is the unlucky one, but perhaps EJC and subsequent WJC is adequate.

Marshall is cover for O Morgan and close enough to time. Richards can only assume proximity to time.

Cassandra
20 days ago

its too bad theyre not bringing theodora taylor to give her experience on the senior team but maybe they dont need any prelim legs for that relay

Scuncan Dott v2
Reply to  Cassandra
20 days ago

Theodora would likely make our lineup in the final for that relay.

NornIron Swim
20 days ago

Is there any word on who gets the 2nd spot in the men’s 2free?

Khase Calisz
Reply to  NornIron Swim
20 days ago

Yea they picked Lewis Burras

SwimmA
Reply to  NornIron Swim
19 days ago

How could it not be Duncan if it comes down to a decision from selectors?

Jonny
Reply to  SwimmA
18 days ago

James has won before… Duncan hasn’t

Scuncan Dott v2
Reply to  Jonny
17 days ago

A decade ago. Duncan has the quicker PB by 0.8 and on recent form should be picked. 4th place at the Olympics and a 1:45.0 after just 3 months training. I’m sorry but Duncan has to be selected, he has more upside for Singapore and will be a medal threat with some more training in him.

Last edited 17 days ago by Scuncan Dott v2
Swammer86
Reply to  Scuncan Dott v2
14 days ago

He was only .2 faster than Guy last year at the Games…and Guy was ill before he competed in Paris.
He’s not had 3 months training…he did the full World Cup series up until the end of November, and had a few weeks in December off. He’s practically in awesome condition and not far off what he did last year…
You don’t rock up and and swim 1.54.9 and 1.45.0 after a couple weeks work. Haha.

About Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having 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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