In Olympic years, as well as years that hold World Championship Trials, USA Swimming’s year-ending National Championship meet often reverts from a competition exclusively for Americans to a “U.S. Open Championship,” where American titles are handed out, but any swimmer who has met the qualifying standards is welcome to compete.
This gives an American audience, and the American competitors, the chance to be exposed to global talent that can only help the sport and the swimmers grow and improve. This year, British Swimming will send a squad of 21 of their top junior swimmers to Indianapolis to compete with the best of the Americans.
The group coming overseas includes a number of swimmers who will be contending for medals in Rio de Janeiro at the 2016 Olympics. Among them is Molly Renshaw, who was 2nd at Britain’s first Olympic Trials in 2012 in the 200 breast, with a FINA “A” time, but later lost an appeal to be put on the Olympic Team anyway.
Other big names on the roster are Jack Marriott, and Florida sophomore Dan Wallace, plus impressive young backstrokers Jessica Fullalove and Lauren Quigley. Quigley is the best high school backstroker we’ve seen since Lizzie Simmonds.
The full lineup of 21 is below.
• James Broady Loughborough University
• Cameron Brodie British Gas Stirling ITC
• Jack Burnell British Gas Loughborough ITC
• Lewis Coleman City of Sheffield
• Kane Haggett Derventio
• Alfie Howes City of Cardiff
• Calum Jarvis British Gas Bath ITC
• Matthew Johnson City of Sheffield
• Adam Mallett British Gas Swansea ITC
• Jack Marriott British Gas Loughborough ITC
• Craig McNally Warrender Baths
• Russell Smith British Gas Stockport ITC
• Daniel Wallace Warrender Baths
• Jessica Fullalove City of Manchester Aquatics
• Georgia Hohmann NOVA
• Karley Mann Hillingdon Swimming Club
• Lauren Quigley City of Manchester Aquatics
• Molly Renshaw Derventio
• Elena Sheridan Romford Town
• Sophie Smith City of Leicester
• Lucy Spencer City of Sheffield
i had heard the french were sending a group also, but smaller. they sent one to federal way a few years ago.