Hector Pardoe, Leah Crisp & Amber Keegan Selected To British Swimming Open Water Team For Fukuoka Worlds
Hector Pardoe, Leah Crisp and Amber Keegan have been named in British Swimming’s marathon swimming team for the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.
The trio were selected following performances at the Sardinia leg of the World Aquatics Open Water World Cup earlier this month, an event that saw all three athletes finish inside the top 20 of their respective 10km events – after the two-per-nation rule – to ensure their qualification for this year’s major championships.
The event will be held at the Seaside Momochi Beach Park from 15-20 July and for Crisp and Keegan, it will be their maiden World Championships, as the pair continue their recent step into top-level open water marathon swimming.
Pardoe, who will compete at his second successive World Championships, a year after finishing 11th in Budapest.
it’s another step on the road to Paris 2024 for the 22-year-old, who had a difficult Olympic debut in Tokyo where he was hit by a stray elbow which left him with a deep cut above his eye and forced his withdrawal.
Looking to Fukuoka, Pardoe said through British Swimming:
“It was amazing to qualify out in Sardinia for my second World Championships, and it’s a huge boost of confidence going forwards for this summer and Paris 2024.
“I had last raced open water at the European Championships 10 months prior to that, so it was nice to get back in and shake off the rust.”
In addition to fighting for places and medals this summer, Fukuoka also represents an opportunity for athletes to qualify for Paris.
Keegan founded a not-for-profit organisation called Athlete Interactions that “aims to decrease stigma and increase action around mental health in elite sport.”
The City of Sheffield swimmer has herself experienced mental health issues as well as injury and being hit by a car.
She posted to social media:
British Swimming’s Performance Pathway & Distance Lead, Kevin Renshaw said:
“We’re all looking forward to seeing what Hector, Leah and Amber can do this summer at worlds.
“They’ve had some great results in the Open Water World Cup legs and we know they have also learned some very valuable lessons in what is a hugely challenging sport, so we know all of that will help them when they go toe-to-toe with the world’s best – giving them valuable experience ahead of 2024 in the process.
“We wish them the best of luck for the competition.”
British Swimming Marathon Team selected for the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan
Hector Pardoe
Leah Crisp
Amber Keegan
Nathan Hilton (Team Leader)
Hayley Baker (Coach)