Alice Dearing, Rhys Davies and Duncan Scott were among the winners at the 2020 British Swimming Awards that were announced on Friday.
Given the global pandemic and its subsequent ripple effect across all areas of life and society, a new series of awards were inaugurated to mark activities that have transcended sporting achievement.
As has become commonplace in 2020, the annual awards ceremony was swapped for an online vote across British Swimming’s website and social media channels.
Dearing won the Championing Diversity award following a year in which she co-founded the Black Swimming Association whose aim is to highlight swimming as an essential life skill and to encourage participation as well as prevent drowning in black and minority ethnic communities.
The former world junior open water champion has spoken about her desire to change perceptions and challenge stereotypes and inspire others to get into the water.
Should Dearing successfully negotiate the open water qualifier in Fukuoka, Japan, in May, she will become just the second black woman to swim for Great Britain at the Olympics after Achieng Ajulu-Bushell in Tokyo in August.
The Loughborough-based swimmer said on social media:
The first award of the afternoon was for Davies who was named the inaugural ‘In aid of our NHS heroes’ winner.
Having reached the men’s S14 100m backstroke final at the World Para-Swimming Championships in 2019, Rhys spent parts of this year helping to provide essential supplies for NHS (National Health Service) staff and other front-line workers.
As the local boat-building business he works for diversified their work to help the cause, Davies produced 10,000 visors to support local hospitals and care homes during lockdown.
Max Litchfield, double IM medal winner at the 2018 Europeans, took home the Community Award after playing his own part in a push for important change.
The Loughborough swimmer – who was fourth in the 400IM at Rio 2016 – has been on a mission to encourage others to make at least ‘one simple change’.
He offered tips on social media on how people can make switches to everyday habits to help the environment and reduce plastic pollution, as well as garnering support from his Loughborough National Centre team-mates to join him on clean-ups of the local area.
Photo Courtesy: British Swimming
Scott won Swim of the Year following his performance in the 200 free during the ISL final in Budapest.
The double Olympic relay silver medallist smashed his own British short-course record from the outside lane, executing his race to perfection to touch in 1:40.25.
Fresh from being named BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year on Thursday, Crystal Palace diver Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix won the Dive of the Year prize following a breakthrough 12 months.
The 16-year-old pipped James Heatly and Noah Williams thanks to a back 2 1/2 somersaults 1 1/2 twists (5253B) that closed out her maiden women’s 10m platform victory at January’s British Championships in Plymouth, a dive delivered under pressure with gold in sight.
The Virtual Event of the Year award was won by ‘Diving Live @ Five’.
When lockdown began in Britain in March, British Diving Pathways and Swim England Talent joined up to deliver the ‘live @ five’ sessions.
These provided a daily Monday-Friday technical and physical programme for the junior, youth and talent squads, which varied from core conditioning and circuit training to yoga sessions during a time when athletes could not access pools.
‘Fuel My Friday’ was a popular feature focused on nutrition that was introduced during lockdown with Commonwealth 200 fly champion Alys Thomas‘ oat and fruit pancakes picking up the most votes.
James Guy: Photo Courtesy: Mine Kasapoglu / ISL
Rounding out the awards was James Guy who won Track Tuesday of the Year.
The four-time world champion was up against Adam Peaty in the very first instalment of this musical mash-up, triumphing with his selection of Stormzy’s ‘Own It’, featuring Ed Sheeran and Burna Boy.
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