A 29-strong British Swimming team has been selected to compete at this summer’s FINA World Championships in Budapest.
Olympic Champion Adam Peaty and Olympic medalists Jazz Carlin, Siobhan-Marie O’Connor, James Guy, Duncan Scott, Stephen Milne and Chris Walker-Hebborn will be joined by a group of emerging younger swimmers with some making their senior international debut.
Commenting on the selections, British Swimming Head Coach Bill Furniss was pleased with what he saw at the British Championships last week in Sheffield where athletes competed for selection.
“It was a tough week but we saw some very good performances as both athletes and coaches rose to the challenge,” said Furniss.
“I think it was a typical first selection competition following an Olympic Games. Some of our athletes that were successful in Rio, and had an extended break afterwards, did well yet others did not fire on all cylinders. This is to be expected.
“However, we’ve got all of our top swimmers there along with an exciting group of juniors that came through and showed themselves and their potential to achieve within the international arena. It’s a good balance between youth and senior, and will create a positive and productive dynamic within the squad.”
The British Championships took place over six days at Ponds Forge International in Sheffield and Furniss was encouraged by athlete performances as they put themselves in the frame for selection.
“The selectors were pleased that so many swimmers achieved the qualification or consideration time,” Furniss added. “We set difficult standards but these reflect what we’re trying to do in British Swimming and what is required to be successful. To see so many swimmers achieving these times is very encouraging.
“The high number of records achieved last week didn’t surprise me. If we are to compete on the world stage you have to show continual improvement and that is what we saw at the Championships.
“We’ve already got one eye on Tokyo and therefore we want to introduce that next generation of elite swimmers to world class arenas. They did a good job in putting themselves forward but now the work starts again as we build towards the World Championships in Budapest in July.”
The British Swimming team set for the World Championships comprises:
| Athlete | Home Nation | Club |
| Adam Peaty | England | National Centre Loughborough |
| Jocelyn Ulyett | England | Loughborough University |
| Max Litchfield | England | City of Sheffield Swim Squad |
| Duncan Scott | Scotland | University of Stirling |
| Ben Proud | England | Plymouth Leander |
The athletes above gained selection after they won their event and achieved the qualification standard at the British Championships 2017 as per Table 1 of the selection policy.
| Hannah Miley | Scotland | University of Aberdeen |
| Chris Walker-Hebborn | England | National Centre Bath |
| James Guy | England | National Centre Bath |
| Calum Jarvis | Wales | National Centre Bath |
| Nick Grainger | England | City of Sheffield Swim Squad |
| Ross Murdoch | Scotland | University of Stirling |
| Molly Renshaw | England | National Centre Loughborough |
| Daniel Jervis | Wales | City of Swansea Aquatics |
| Charlotte Atkinson | Isle of Man | Loughborough University |
| Georgia Davies | Wales | Loughborough University |
| Sarah Vasey | England | National Centre Loughborough |
| Alys Thomas | Wales | City of Swansea Aquatics |
| Freya Anderson | England | Ellesmere College Titans |
| Stephen Milne | Scotland | Perth City Swim Club |
| James Wilby | England | National Centre Loughborough |
| Aimee Willmott | England | London Aquatics Centre PP |
| Holly Hibbott | England | Stockport Metro |
| Siobhan-Marie O’Connor | England | National Centre Bath |
The athletes above gained selection after they achieved the consideration time as per Table 2 of the selection policy (individual and relay).
| Jazz Carlin | Wales | National Centre Bath |
| Abbie Wood | England | National Centre Loughborough |
| Rosie Rudin | England | City of Sheffield Swim Squad |
| Mark Szaranek | Scotland | Edinburgh University/Florida |
| Luke Greenbank | England | National Centre Loughborough |
| Kathleen Dawson | Scotland | University of Stirling |
The athletes above gained selection at the discretion of the GB 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; potential to make the Tokyo 2020 Olympic team; individual performances over the last 12 months and performances at the British Championships 2017.
Coaches selected to the British Team for the World Championships are:
Jol Finck – National Centre Bath
Ben Higson – University of Stirling
Andi Manley – Loughborough University
Mel Marshall – National Centre Loughborough
David McNulty – National Centre Bath
Stephen Tigg – University of Stirling
For the World Championships selection policy CLICK HERE
Press release courtesy of British Swimming
