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
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