Adam Peaty Doha-Bound For First World Championships Since 2019 As British Swimming Announces Squad Of 20
Adam Peaty will make his first World Championship appearance since Gwangju 2019 after British Swimming announced a squad of 20 for Doha.
The three-time Olympic champion has claimed eight golds among 10 medals across three World Championships in 2015, 2017 and 2019.
It was in Gwangju that Peaty posted the 56.88 WR in the 100m breaststroke as he took 0.22 off his own mark of 57.10 that had stood since the 2018 European Championships.
He was set to appear at Budapest 2022 only to announce his withdrawal in May that year after fracturing a bone in his right foot during training in Tenerife.
Peaty also missed Fukuoka in July after pulling out of the April trials to focus on his mental health with Qin Haiyang sweeping the breaststroke events, clocking an Asian record of 57.69 for 100 gold and a 2:05.48 WR over 200.
The Chinese swimmer will compete in Doha along with Arno Kamminga, Nicolo Martinenghi and Nic Fink, who shared an historic three-way tie for silver behind Qin in July.
Peaty, Kamminga, Martinenghi and Qin all competed at the World Cup series in October with the Chinese crowned men’s overall champion.
The Briton had been scheduled to race in Rotterdam earlier this month but withdrew.
Ben Proud: Photo Courtesy: Andrea Masini / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
Ben Proud, who won 50 free gold at Budapest 2022 before claiming bronze in Fukuoka in July, will compete at his seventh World Championships after making his debut at Barcelona 2013.
Also on the team are Olympic 200 free gold and silver medallists Tom Dean and Duncan Scott plus world champion Matt Richards, the trio having also formed three-quarters of the 4×2 squad that won gold in Tokyo although James Guy – the fourth member of the quartet – will not be travelling for the meet that runs from 11-18 February.
Luke Greenbank returns to the worlds fold after missing Fukuoka but now continuing down the path that has secured Olympic and world 200 back medals.
Lauren Cox, who became the first British woman to win an individual global medal in seven years with 50 back bronze at the 2023 worlds, is joined by Anna Hopkin who anchored the British mixed medley relay to gold in Tokyo.
Abbie Wood, winner of the 200/400IM double at the recent European Short-Course Championships, and Medi Harris, 200 back gold medallist at the continental short-course meet, will both compete.
Also on the team is Max Litchfield – joint fourth in the 400IM – in Tokyo – brother Joe also on the team.
As well as Guy, those not travelling include Freya Anderson, Katie Shanahan, Jacob Peters, Emily Large, Keanna MacInnes and Oli Morgan.
Neither will Lewis Burras be in Qatar despite the men’s 4×100 free relay having to qualify for Paris 2024 after being DQd in Fukuoka.
Looking ahead to the third World Championship competition in 20 months, British Swimming Performance Director Chris Spice is focused on how the meet can play its part in the preparations for Paris 2024.
He said:
“We are all aware of the unusual challenge that a World Championships in Olympic year could pose – but our swimmers and staff are preparing for Doha as a crucial part of our build-up to Paris and, before that, the British Swimming Championships in April.
“Locking in relay places across the Olympic programme is a key focus, with our relay teams having been so successful in recent years, showing the versatility and depth of this cohort of athletes.
“On top of that, though, this is a great racing opportunity on the world stage and will be a serious test of our swimmers’ preparations and work over the winter months as they will still be in heavy training throughout the meet.”
British Swimming team for 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar (11th-18th February 2024):
Freya Colbert, Loughborough Performance Centre (England)
Lauren Cox, Loughborough University (England)
Kathleen Dawson, University of Stirling (Scotland)
Tom Dean, Bath Performance Centre (England)
Luke Greenbank, Loughborough Performance Centre (England)
Medi Harris, Loughborough Performance Centre (Wales)
Lucy Hope, University of Stirling (Scotland)
Anna Hopkin, Loughborough Performance Centre (England)
Joe Litchfield, Loughborough Performance Centre (England)
Max Litchfield, Loughborough Performance Centre (England)
Jack McMillan, University of Stirling (Northern Ireland)
Adam Peaty, Loughborough Performance Centre (England)
Ben Proud, University of Bath (England)
Matthew Richards, Millfield (Wales)
Duncan Scott, University of Stirling (Scotland)
Laura Stephens, Loughborough Performance Centre (England)
Jacob Whittle, Bath Performance Centre (England)
James Wilby, Loughborough Performance Centre (England)
Brodie Williams, Bath Performance Centre (England)
Abbie Wood, Loughborough Performance Centre (England)