As a result of her performance at the recent BUCS Short Course National Championship meet, Kathryn Greenslade from the University of Edinburgh has been added to British Swimming’s roster for the 2017 European Short Course Swimming Championships in Copenhagen. British Swimming is presenting her as a ‘replacement’ for male swimmer Max Litchfield, who has withdrawn to “focus on improving his fitness ahead of the Commonwealth Games in April.”
“Kathryn has put in some strong performances in recent competitions, so this is her chance to gain big event experience and develop arena skills – whilst being part of a squad with proven medal winners,” Team Leader Tim Jones said in a British Swimming press release. “We will be working with Max to ensure he is in prime condition for the Commonwealths and the Glasgow 2018 European Championships.”
Swimming at the BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sports) championships earlier this month, Greenslade picked up wins in the 200 free (1:54.67), 200 back (2:05.33), split a 25.01 anchor on Edinburgh’s winning 200 free relay. All three of those swims resulted in new Championship Records – and all were raced in the same session. She now ranks 1st among all British Swimmers in the 200 free in 2017 and ranks 4th in the 200 back.
In replacing Litchfield, the roster remains at the internally-capped 10 athletes (what is meant when British Swimming says she ‘replaces’ Litchfield, though she swims in the women’s events). The 22-year old Litchfield was the 2016 Short Course World Championships silver medalist in the 400 IM and also finished 4th in that same event at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. He placed 4th in both the 200 and 400 IMs at the 2017 World Championships.
Greenslade is a medical student at Edinburgh.
The 2017 European Short Course Swimming Championships will be held at the newly-opened Royal Arena in Copenhagen, Denmark from December 13th-17th.
- Freya Anderson – Ellesmere College Titans
- Charlotte Atkinson – Loughborough University
- Kathleen Dawson – University of Stirling
- Emily Large – Newcastle Swim Team
- Jocelyn Ulyett – Loughborough University
- Kathryn Greenslade – University of Edinburgh
- Ross Murdoch – University of Stirling
- Adam Peaty – National Centre Loughborough
- Ben Proud – Plymouth Leander
- Duncan Scott – University of Stirling
Much deserved spot for Greenslade – Heading to Edinburgh is working wonders for her, and many others. Excited to see her in the run up to Tokyo, she has the most beautiful long stroke – Pleasure to watch.
Fingers crossed Max Litchfield is all okay; Commonwealths is really an opportunity for him to establish himself and win his first non-domestic Gold.
Ms Greenslade certainly does look an interesting prospect.
Will differ with you regarding Litchfield and CG. Whilst I fully concur that (barring illness/injury) it will produce his first non domestic golds; in all honesty the competition level he will be beating is likely to be no better than what he would encounter domestically. His competition at 200 are 1.58men at best (some who fail to replicate through the rounds) and there is no one within a number of seconds at 400.
In all honesty, on the men’s side there are very few events that are likely to actually be “open”; most probably only the 100fr; 50/100fly, 4X200 (with maybe some potential for 200fr/200fly to be competitive). In most other cases,… Read more »
I fully agree regarding the standard, but I think mentally it will be a big meet for Max. Irrelevant of standard, he has a chance to be a champion and stand on top of a podium to hear his national anthem. It comes at a great time for him in his development too.