2024 BRITISH SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS (OLYMPIC TRIALS)
- Tuesday, April 2nd – Sunday, April 7th
- London Aquatics Centre
- LCM (50m)
- British Swimming Olympic Selection Policy
- Meet Central
- SwimSwam Preview #1
- Entries
The 2024 British Swimming Championships kick off Tuesday, April 2nd with the meet representing the sole opportunity for swimmers to qualify for this summer’s Olympic Games.
Just one week out we’ve already been made aware of one swimmer who may not be present, as Freya Anderson announced she has mononucleosis (glandular fever).
The versatile 23-year-old posted on social media today, Tuesday, March 26th, “At the start of this year, after repetitive bouts of illness, I was diagnosed with glandular fever, which meant I had to pull back from training and our team camp in Australia.
“This was not how I envisioned the start of the Olympic year, but I had to listen to my body and put my health and recovery first, something I’ve found extremely hard to do throughout my career.
“As a swimmer, one of the toughest things you can hear is that you can’t be in the pool but I’ve had incredible support from my team and I’m so, so grateful for that. I cannot thank them enough🤍”
Anderson went on to say that it is ‘unlikely’ she’ll be racing at the British Championships but will leave it as a last-minute decision.
“This period of recovery has allowed me to focus on different elements of my training and life outside the pool, so it has come with some positives! 🥰 This does mean that I’m unlikely to race at the British Championships in London; I am entered but it will be a last-minute decision as to whether I swim. I will still be there to train with the team and I can’t wait to watch my teammates race😍!!”
Anderson, who trains at Bath under Dave McNulty, is entered as the top-seeded swimmer in both the women’s 100m and 200m freestyle events. She owns lifetime bests of 53.31 and 1:55.85, respectively.
At the 2020 Olympic Games, Anderson placed 11th in the 100m free (53.53) and 12th in the 200m free (1:57.10). She helped the British women finish 5th in the 4x100m free relay.
Among her international hardware earned since then, Anderson collected 6 medals at the 2022 European Championships, including gold in the mixed 4x20m free relay and women’s 4x100m free relay.
If Anderson doesn’t wind up swimming at the Trials, that doesn’t mean she’s officially out of Olympic contention. As has been the standard in the past, the British Selection Policy states that the Head Coach and High-Performance Director can discretionarily pick athletes for the roster.
Anderson’s potential absence in the 100m/200m free races opens the door for the likes of Freya Colbert, Abbie Wood and Lucy Hope to vie for a medal. National record holder Anna Hopkin is a favorite for the 100m but the 200m would have a more wide open field.
What if two other swimmers get the ‘A’ times. It is the trials after all? If not that’s where discretion comes in.
She should swim a heat of the 100 at the trials to get rid of any ‘did not swim trials’ argument.
And when she goes a 56 because she’s sick, what happens then?
Don’t think it’s worth the risk
What’s lost if she lays an egg in the 4×1 heats? Without her they have no chance of a medal and even with her it’s a long shot.
That said there’ll be racing opportunities between trials and Paris like Mare Nostrum.
Well, her spleen might be “lost” if she competes. I thought the same thing when I had mono a million years ago… had to have radiation therapy afterwards, to shrink my spleen again and keep it from rupturing, because I didn’t rest.
Also they may need another discretionary pick as Medi Harris has just lost her mum, I doubt the poor girl will feel like swimming next week, very sad
Such a shame, particularly for the relays. Was hoping the 4×2 might finally break the super suit NR.
Still could happen in Paris, Freya will be selected either way.
Even if she is selected, I wouldn’t expect her to be in top form
I wouldn’t be so confident British Swimming is weird and it wouldn’t surprise me to see them leave her off the team.
They’re weird but they’re not gonna leave their most reliable female relay swimmer off the team.
IF she’s a “viable bet”; ie her health/form is such that its likely that she can perform if not at her best then be a solid part of at least one of their rels rather than a liability; then its a good chance they may expend a Discretional Selection her way.
One suspects they may utilise as much time as they can in assessing her “viability” before confirming her place.
A real shame for Freya – wishing her all the best in her recovery, and hopefully we still see her in Paris. Also rough for the other 100/200 girls who may struggle to hit the nomination times now after such progress in recent years – But if BS have any sense, they’ll still send them with Anderson as a discretionary pick (if she is well enough).
One of the few occasions where I am glad for the discretionary selections that GB does.
Also, I didn’t realize that GB trials starts so soon! Real tight turnaround from men’s NCAAs to the start of trials for Jonny Marshall and any other GB swimmers that are in the NCAA
…and Alicia Wilson entered at two events 200IM and 200 back
Hope she recovers well.
On a slightly unrelated topic that I don’t think has been reported yet. It looks like British Swimming will not be sending much of a squad to the Europeans this year. According to their selection policy recently published, anyone who is going to Paris will not be eligible.
Am I the only one who finds this slightly strange? In previous Olympic years GB has always sent a strong squad as it acts as a great tune up for the swimmers and relay practise, in terms of heats, semis and finals over a week long event like you get at the Olympics.
Would love to understand why they are not following their normal scheduling this year?
Probably because of the proximity to the Olympics this time? Historically those Europeans have been around the early May time and this time they’re in June so maybe they think it’s too close.
Could be a reason, but then you look at France, USA, Italy (sette colli) and Aus all hold their trials in June and don’t see it as being too late
Not really a matter of timing but I can think of a few recent examples where a Brit “stormed it” at Euros but didn’t sustain that level at the Olympics.
Probably financial, having sent a big team to worlds.
2016 – London hosted, meaning no travel time.
2021 – It was only 3 weeks after trials, so quite conveniently timed.
Not going this year is probably the safest call.