British Swimming Names World Championship Team

Photo Courtesy: Ian MacNicol

A 30-strong British Swimming team has been selected to compete at this summer’s FINA World Championships in Kazan.

The team features European and Commonwealth Champions Jazz Carlin, Chris Walker-Hebborn and Adam Peaty who set a sub-58second World Record in the Men’s 100m Breaststroke on his way to qualifying for the team.

British Swimming Head Coach Bill Furniss was pleased with what he saw at the British Championships last week in London 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.

“As a result of those performances I feel we’ve got a well balanced team with particular strength in depth across several events. The way we have selected the team has enabled us to maximise our strengths both in individual events and across the relays.”

While recognising performances in London, Furniss has encouraged the team to take the next step up towards the World Championships where the task will be greater.

“The challenge for everyone is to move our performances on between now and the summer,” said Furniss. “Athletes have done a good job to make the team but our primary focus is to improve performances in the summer and we will leave no stone unturned in pursuit of this.”

The World Championships in Kazan will be the first for City of Derby’s Adam Peaty and follows a remarkable breakthrough year for the Breaststroke swimmer.

“I’m excited and proud to make my first full, world championship team and to represent my country in one of the biggest international arenas,” said Peaty.

“I was pleased with my performances to make the team but you can’t stop there. I know there are improvements I can still make and these are what I will be working on as I focus on the World Championships.

“Last year I spent my time hunting down swimmers who were faster than me. This time I’m the one that others will be targeting so I need to work harder than ever before to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

The swimming events at the FINA World Championships take place in Kazan, Russia between 2-9 Aug.

The British Swimming Team comprises:

James Guy – Millfield

Chris Walker-Hebborn – NC Bath

Adam Peaty – City of Derby

Roberto Pavoni – NC Loughborough

Jazz Carlin – NC Bath

Siobhan-Marie O’Connor – NC Bath

Hannah Miley – Garioch

Elizabeth Simmonds – NC Bath

The athletes above gained selection after they won their event and achieved the qualification standard at the British Championships.

Thomas Laxton – Loughborough University

Calum Jarvis – NC Bath

Ross Murdoch – University of Stirling

Robbie Renwick – University of Stirling

Nick Grainger – City of Sheffield

Andrew Willis – NC Bath

Aimee Willmott – London Aquatic Centre PP

Eleanor Faulkner – City of Sheffield

Rebecca Turner – City of Sheffield

Sophie Taylor – London Aquatic Centre PP

Rachael Kelly – NC Loughborough

Francesca Halsall – NC Loughborough

Ben Proud – Plymouth Leander

Duncan Scott – University of Stirling

Lauren Quigley – Stockport Metro

Stephen Milne – Perth City

Dan Wallace – Warrender

The athletes above gained selection after they achieved a time within 2% of the set benchmark time included within the policy (individual and relay).

Liam Tancock – NC Loughborough

Adam Barrett – NC Loughborough

Jessica Thielmann – University of Florida

Molly Renshaw – NC Loughborough

Jemma Lowe – NC Bath

The athletes above gained selection at the discretion of the British 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; a proven track record as a relay swimmer at major international meets; individual performances over the last 12 months and performances at the British Championships 2015.

Coaches selected to the British Team for the World Championships are:

Russ Barber – City of Sheffield

Jol Finck – Millfield

James Gibson – NC Loughborough

Ben Higson – University of Sterling

Mel Marshall – City of Derby

David McNulty – NC Bath

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World. To reach our audience, contact us at newsmaster@swimmingworld.com.

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