![Freya Colbert thumbs up 400m IM [MorganHarlowBritishSwimming]](https://vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Freya-Colbert-thumbs-up-400m-IM-MorganHarlowBritishSwimming-1024x683.jpg)
Freya Colbert Breaks British 200 Free Record; Nowacki Wins as Peaty Finishes Fourth
Freya Colbert broke new ground as the first British woman inside 1:55 in the 200 free on day two of the Edinburgh International.
Colbert, who trains at Loughborough Performance Centre, controlled the race throughout to come home in 1:54.98.
That took 0.08 off the previous standard of 1:55.06 that she set at the 2025 worlds in Singapore where she’d beaten Jo Jackson’s longstanding mark from the 2009 supersuit era.
Freya Colbert: Photo Courtesy: Morgan Harlow/Aquatics GB
Abbie Wood and Leah Schlosshan, both Manchester Performance Centre, finished second and third in 1:57.23 and 1:58.28 respectively.
Colbert has just come off an altitude camp and was unsure of its effects coming into the meet in the Scottish capital.
Having already achieved one of her objectives for next month’s British Championships, she now intends to keep chipping away at that mark with 1:54-los the point she can realistically start jostling for global medals.
“My goal at Trials was to go 1:54 and I’ve just done it and I definitely like that,” said Colbert. “I like the fact that I’m bringing something similar to what the boy’s 200 free have, and I think it’s something that we all have to sit around and watch a lot. It’s other swimmers in Britain.
“So to sort of try and raise the bar myself, look at them and give them a bit of competition for anticipation around a final session, and different days at trials, that is something that is really, really good, really exciting, and I’m glad all the people are enjoying watching it.”
Nowacki Completes Double; Peaty Fourth on Comeback
There was an air of anticipation for the 100m breaststroke super final with the Royal Commonwealth Pool providing the first long-course setting for Adam Peaty since the Olympic final in Paris back in 2024.
Swimmers, coaches and team staff stood shoulder to shoulder and several bodies deep around the pool to watch, while a packed spectator gallery cheered as Peaty was announced from the call room area.
Filip Nowacki: Photo Courtesy: Istvan Derencsenyi/European Aquatics
World and European junior champion Filip Nowacki was fastest into the final but it was Peaty who turned first.
However, Nowacki, Greg Butler – who trained with Peaty at Derby under Mel Marshall many years ago – and world junior bronze medallist Max Morgan clawed back the deficit with the quartet in a line with 15m to go.
It was Nowacki who finished fastest, stopping the clock in 1:00.26 ahead of Butler (1:00.37), Morgan (1:00.54) and Peaty, who was fourth in 1:00.74 as the first four home were separated by 0.48secs. Nowacki completed the 100/200 double following victory in the longer race on Friday.
He said: “I’m very pleased, I’m around my season’s best and I’ve had a busy programme here, having done the 200 IM and 200 breast yesterday and then the 400 IM as well as the heats for this event this morning. So I’m really pleased to have come through in that race and I mean the competition was just stacked. It’s not just Adam, it’s me and Max too and we have been rivals for two years and then Greg as well. Everyone’s just coming through, so it’s truly amazing.”
Three-time Olympic champion Peaty said: “Honestly, I don’t really care what the scoreboard says right now. I think this journey is going to be very, very different as I look towards LA. I can’t go into every single competition expecting to be the best or the fastest. It’s just not possible when I’m older. So this one’s a little bit different and yes, life has been pretty busy as well. And it’s just great to be out racing really.”
Scott At The Double
Duncan Scott completed the IM double with a 4:15.94 victory in the longer race ahead of Max Litchfield (4:19.04) and Ed Marcal Whittle (4:26.35). Amalie Smith enjoyed a 10-second winning margin in the women’s race in 4:40.13.
Matt Richards added the 50 free crown to his 200 in 22.43 ahead of Jacob Mills (22.49) and David Cumberlidge (22.61).
Edinburgh University’s Ciara Schlosshan upgraded 200 fly silver to 100 gold in 58.39 ahead of Lucy Grieve (58.72) and Keanna Macinnes (58.92).
Oli Morgan and Lauren Cox won their respective 50 back races in 24.73 and 27.83 with Tyler Melbourne-Smith (7:58.15) and Amelie Blocksidge (8:35.51) winning their respective 800 frees.
Ed Mildred won the men’s 200 fly in 1:58.91 and Anna Morgan was the only woman inside 31 in the 50m breaststroke (30.78).