Peaty, Scott, Proud, Ulyett, Atkinson Lead British 2017 Worlds Roster

2017 BRITISH SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Tuesday, April 18th – Sunday, April 23rd
• Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, Sheffield
• LCM
• Qualifying Times Analysis (for this meet)
• Qualifying Times Analysis (for 2017 World Championships GBR squad)
• Meet Site
• Psych Sheets
• Live Stream
• Live Results

By the end of the 6-day 2017 British Championships, just 5 swimmers notched times falling under the stiff British automatic-qualifying standards for first-place finishers to make it onto the World Championships roster. Adam Peaty was virtually a given in his specialty, the men’s 100m breaststroke, but the remaining athletes all fought hard for their roster spots, each clocking new national records in the process.

Jocelyn Ulyett was a break-out star in the women’s 200m breaststroke race, while Max Litchfield lit things up in the 400m IM. Ben Proud and Duncan Scott manhandled the sprint freestyle events, with Proud racing to a new world #1 in the 50m and Scott becoming the first British man ever under 48 seconds in the 100m distance.

The aforementioned all lead the 29-strong British roster for the 2017 World Championships, a line-up that includes both seasoned veterans and up-and-coming athletes. James Guy, the reigning 200m freestyle world champion, collected a remarkable 4 gold medals in Sheffield, but remarkably fell short of the automatic qualifying time in each. The same held true for Olympic silver medalist Siobhan-Marie O’Connor, who was disqualified in the 200m IM, but notched a consideration time in the 100m breaststroke.

Newcomers Freya Anderson, the 16-year-old who won the women’s 100m freestyle, as well as Isle of Man 200m butterfly champion Charlotte Atkinson bring new blood into the fold to mix with the likes of stalwarts Chris Walker-Hebborn and Hannah Miley.

Beyond automatic qualification and consideration standards, the British coaching staff held discretionary powers, where the brain trust could cherry pick swimmers onto the roster regardless of British Championships performance. Falling into this discretionarily-selected group includes Olympic double silver medalist Jazz Carlin, 200m backstroke rising star Rosie Rudin, Loughborough’s Abbie Wood, IM challenger Mark Szaranek, European Games champion Luke Greenbank and Scottish national record holder Kathleen Dawson.

Notable names missing from the Budapest bunch include 2016 Olympians Dan Wallace and Chloe Tutton, as well as freestyler Jay Lelliott

Regarding the line-up, British Head Coach Bill Furniss said, “It was a tough week but we saw some very good performances as both athletes and coaches rose to the challenge.

“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 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 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.

The athletes above gained selection after they achieved the consideration time as per Table 2 of the selection policy (individual and relay).

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