British Swimming has selected a total of 60 Podium, Podium Potential and Academy swimmers to its 2019-2020 Para-Swimming World Class Programme.
Twenty-one athletes, including stars Alice Tai and Reece Dunn, were named to the Podium squad. Seventeen were named to the Podium Potential team. Both groups “receive programme opportunities and targeted financial support” from UK Sport, according to the announcement.
“I’m absolutely delighted by the strength and depth of the swimmers selected onto the programme as we go into the final season before the Paralympic Games,” British Para-Swimming National Performance Director Chris Furber said. “The performances at the World Championships in London were outstanding and the swimmers have created a brilliant platform on which to build their 2020 seasons. Now that selections are complete the important planning phases can begin as we ensure the support the swimmers need is in place.”
Performance Pathway Manager Craig Nicholson spoke to the promise of the Academy selections.
“While Tokyo is less than 12 months away, we have a group of promising para-swimmers who are looking forward to Paris 2024. It’s a really exciting time for the programme to have such a talented group of swimmers to support over this next 12 months. The academy delivery will be through camps and club visits, focusing on developing key athlete behaviours through the ROAR ingredients, Para-Swimming’s athlete development framework.”
All selected athletes are eligible for benefits including training camp and competition opportunities, as well as support from performance staff and “access to world-class sports science and medicine services.”
Athlete selections are listed below.
2019-2010 World Class Performance Programme
| Podium | Podium Potential | Academy |
| Jessica-Jane Applegate, City of Norwich (England) | Jonathan Booth, NPC (England) |
Aliya Bacakoglu, Borough of Kirklees (England)
|
| Louise Fiddes, Hatfield Swimming Club (England) | Dylan Broom, Torfaen Dolphins Performance Centre (Wales) |
Conor Ballard, Leatherhead SC (England)
|
| Bethany Firth, Newcastle/ARDS (England) | Ellie Challis, Colchester Phoenix (England) |
Luke Batty, Bolton Metro (England)
|
| Tully Kearney, NPC/COMAST (England) | Katie Crowhurst, Wycombe (England) |
James Brown, Royal Wolverhampton (England)
|
| Eleanor Robinson, Northampton SC (England) | Rhys Davies, Nofio Sir Gar (Wales) |
Oliver Carter, University of Stirling (Scotland)
|
| Hannah Russell, NPC / City of Manchester Aquatics (England) | Danielle Hartin, Basildon Phoenix (England) |
Levi Codling, Coalville SC (England)
|
| Toni Shaw, University of Aberdeen (Scotland) | Grace Harvey, NPC (England) |
Benjamin Grainger, Mount Kelly (England)
|
| Eleanor Simmonds, Camden Swiss Cottage (England) | Tyler Ioannou, Wycombe SC (England) |
Eliza Humphrey, Northampton Swimming Club (England)
|
| Maisie Summers-Newton, Northampton SC (England) | Abby Kane, North Ayrshire Amateur Swimming Club (Scotland) |
Scarlett Humphrey, Northampton Swimming Club (England)
|
| Rebecca Redfern, Worcester Swimming Club (England) | George Kelman-Johns, Swim Bournemouth (England) |
Charlotte Hyde, Camden Swiss Cottage SC (England)
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| Jordan Catchpole, City of Norwich (England) | Louis Lawlor, City of Glasgow Swim Team (Scotland) |
Seren Leconte, RCT Performance Swim Squad (Wales)
|
| Stephen Clegg, Edinburgh University (Scotland) | Jacob Leach, Cockermouth (England) |
Rebecca Lewis, RCT Performance Swim Squad (Wales)
|
| Reece Dunn, Plymouth Leander (England) | Stephanie Millward, Team Bath AS (England) |
Poppy Maskill, Crewe Flyers (England)
|
| Thomas Hamer, Stockport Metro (England) | Conner Morrison, University of Aberdeen (Scotland) |
Jack Milne, Dundee City Aquatics (Scotland)
|
| Oliver Hynd, Nova Centurion England) | Andrew Mullen, City of Glasgow Swim Team (Scotland) |
Megan Neave, City Of Derby (England)
|
| Michael Jones, NPC (England) | Leah O’connell, Camden Swiss Cottage (England) |
Luke O’Dowd, The tornadoes of South Dorset (England)
|
| Scott Quin, Warrender Baths (Scotland) | Brock Whiston, Barking and Dagenham (England) |
William Perry, Northampton SC (England)
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Lewis White, COMAST (England)
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Harvey Phillips, Louth dolphins (England)
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Zara Mullooly, Northampton SC (England)
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Georgia Sheffield, City of Salford Swimming Club (England)
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Suzanna Hext, Swindon Dolphin (England)
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Fern Sneddon, RTW Monson (England)
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Alice Tai, Ealing SC (England)
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Kieran Williams, Newquay Coromorants (England)
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Meghan Willis, Torfaen Dolphins Performance Centre (Wales)
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