British Shoal Of 23 Swimmers Bound For Budapest 2022 World Championships In June With 8 Olympic Gold Medallists
A British selection of 23 swimmers are bound for the Budapest 2022 World Championships in June, Adam Peaty the roar at the helm as he seeks to retain the 50 and 100m breaststroke titles for a record third time for four crowns apiece in each distance since 2015.
After trials ended last Sunday, selectors applied their rulers to a policy that included pre-selection of those who finished top 6 at the Tokyo 2020ne Olympic Games last year.
Eight of Britain’s Olympic gold medalists Tokyo make the team for Budapest, where swimming will unfold at the Duna Arena on the Danube over eight days from June 18.
Adam Peaty, Tom Dean, and Duncan Scott, who cracked the Commonwealth 400IM record last week, lead the way as solo-event winners and multi-medal haulers in Tokyo, with relay champions Anna Hopkin, Kathleen Dawson, James Guy, Matt Richards and Freya Anderson summing up to nine Tokyo podium placers at what was Britain’s must successful ever Games in the pool.
Tokyo bronze medallist in the 200m backstroke and silver medallist in the 4x100m medley relay with Peaty, Guy and Scott, Luke Greenbank in joined on the squad by James Wilby among swimmers who made the podium at the previous World Championships, in Gwangju in 2019.
The British Medallists from 2019 now heading for Budapest: Duncan Scott; Adam Peaty; Luke Greenbank; James Guy; James Wilby; Freya Anderson.
Peaty’s two golds in Gwangju were converted to three for him and an historic first for Britain’s 4x100m medley quartet, with Greenbank, Guy and Scott, that defeated the mighty United States.
Max Litchfield, who finished fourth in the 400m medley for a second Games in succession, is not among those selected for Budapest, nor is there a place for Calum Jarvis, the heats swimmer who collected gold and was made an MBE for his contribution to the 4x200m freestyle gold.
Among nine swimmers who will make their World-Championship debuts in Budapest are Lewis Burras, Freya Colbert and Medi Harris – who all caught the eye with their performances at last week’s British Swimming Championships – making their first senior international appearances for Britain on the global stage.
The coaching staff is led by Bill Furniss, Britain head coach, Dave McNulty and Mel Marshall, respective heads of the Bath and Loughborough performance centres, and Steven Tigg, head of the University of Stirling program. They are joined by Adam Baker, Swim Wales High Performance Centre, and David Hemmings, Loughborough National Centre.
British Swimming Statement in Full
British Swimming have selected a 23-strong team to compete in the pool at this summer’s FINA World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, in the first major international meet since a historic Olympic Games performance last year.
Eight of Britain’s Olympic champions from nine months ago – Adam Peaty, Anna Hopkin, Tom Dean, Kathleen Dawson, James Guy, Freya Anderson, Duncan Scott and Matt Richards – are part of a group that blends experienced championship performers with exciting youth and will compete across the first eight days of the World Championships programme, which runs from 17th June-3rd July 2022.
James Wilby and Luke Greenbank, two others to stand on the Tokyo podium and who were crowned world champions at the last World Championships in Gwangju three years ago, are also selected to compete at the iconic Duna Arena.
Meanwhile, nine of the team are set to make their World Championship debut, with Lewis Burras, Freya Colbert and Medi Harris – who all caught the eye with their performances at last week’s British Swimming Championships – making their first senior international appearances for Britain on the global stage.
The 2022 World Championships is the benchmark meet for Britain’s elite swimmers at the start of a busy summer of aquatics action and the beginning of the three-year cycle into the next Olympics of Paris 2024. The last World Championships served up a third 50m-100m Breaststroke gold double for Peaty – as well as a brilliant gold-silver combo, with Wilby, in the 100m event – a breakthrough 200m Backstroke bronze for Greenbank and that unforgettable Men’s 4x100m Medley Relay triumph, rounded out with a genuinely world-class anchor leg of freestyle from the indomitable Scott.
Speaking about the selections for the 2022 edition, British Swimming Performance Director Chris Spice said: “It was fantastic to be back at a full British Championships at Ponds Forge last week, seeing exceptional swims from some of our established names alongside a long line of personal bests and standout performances from younger athletes.
“While pre-selections for Budapest from our Olympic results meant some swimmers adapted their plans for the meet, we were not short on world-class quality each day. Duncan Scott’s British record in the Men’s 400m Individual Medley was a big highlight, as was that Men’s 200m Freestyle finale, while athletes like Abbie Wood, Daniel Jervis and Lewis Burras all showed the strong positions they are in at this stage of the season with multiple British titles.
“Now the focus very much turns to ensuring this team can produce season’s best performances when it matters most, on the World Championship stage. We have seen time and again in recent years that our swimmers are capable of bringing their best to the fore at the perfect moment, and we will be working between now and mid-June to make sure everyone is in a position to do that.
“It was also exciting for the selectors to be able to select so many young, up-and-coming athletes who will gain priceless major arena experience, while also pushing for big swims. Relays have been an important focus for British Swimming over recent years, and our discretionary selections allow us as many relay options as possible as we build towards Paris 2024.”
Ahead of making her senior debut for Britain in Budapest, Nova Centurions athlete Freya Colbert said: “I’m super excited to be selected, if not a bit surprised, as my best at British Championships was better than I could’ve imagined! Making my first senior international team is a massive achievement for myself – I know how difficult the transition from junior to senior can be and so I’m excited to be given the opportunity.
“Being on the team with such experienced and successful athletes will create a great learning environment for myself and I can’t wait to get on that plane to Budapest.”
The British Swimming team for the 2022 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary
Kathleen Dawson, University of Stirling
Thomas Dean, Bath National Centre
Luke Greenbank, Loughborough National Centre
Daniel Jervis, Swansea University
Adam Peaty, Loughborough National Centre
Benjamin Proud, Bath University
Molly Renshaw, Loughborough National Centre
Duncan Scott, University of Stirling
James Wilby, Loughborough National Centre
Abbie Wood, Loughborough National Centre
The athletes above gained selection based on top-six finishes in individual events at Tokyo 2020, as per clause 5.1 of the selection policy
James Guy, Bath National Centre
Anna Hopkin, Loughborough National Centre
Matthew Richards, Bath National Centre
The athletes above gained selection based on winning a relay medal, and swimming in that relay’s final, at Tokyo 2020, as per clause 5.2 of the selection policy
Lewis Burras, Winchester City
The athlete above gained selection after placing first or second in an event at the British Swimming Championships and achieving the relevant consideration time, as per clause 5.4 of the selection policy
Jacob Whittle, Loughborough National Centre
The athletes above gained selection after meeting the criteria for relay additions under the relevant consideration times, as per clause 5.5 of the selection policy
Freya Anderson, Bath National Centre
Freya Colbert, Nova Centurions
Medi Harris, Swansea University
Lucy Hope, University of Stirling
Joe Litchfield, Loughborough National Centre
Jacob Peters, Bath National Centre
Laura Stephens, Loughborough National Centre
Brodie Williams, Bath National Centre
The athletes above gained selection at the discretion of the GB Head Coach and Performance Director. The criteria for these decisions included the need to develop relay teams for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games; provision of relay cover and alternates to rest key athletes with large schedules; potential to make the Paris 2024 Olympic team; individual performances over the last 12 months and performances at the 2022 British Swimming Championships.
Coaches selected to the British team for the 2022 World Championships
Adam Baker, Swim Wales High Performance Centre
David Hemmings, Loughborough National Centre
Mel Marshall, Loughborough National Centre
David McNulty, Bath National Centre
Steven Tigg, University of Stirling