Tokyo 2020: Team GB add 24 swimmers to Olympic squad
- Published
Molly Renshaw set a world-leading time in the 200m breaststroke at the British trials
Double Olympic silver medallist James Guy and British record holder Molly Renshaw are among 24 swimmers added to the Team GB squad for the Tokyo Games.
They join the four swimmers - Adam Peaty, Duncan Scott, Luke Greenbank and James Wilby - pre-selected in December.
The squad won six medals at Rio 2016, their best haul in over a century, but aim to beat that total this summer.
"I am sure we can have a very successful Tokyo Games," said GB performance director Chris Spice.
"We had an amazing week of racing at the London Aquatics Centre [for the British trials] which demonstrates the outstanding work coaches and support staff across Britain have done keeping these athletes training to the highest of levels in very challenging circumstances during the last 18 months."
Peaty is looking to become the first GB swimmer in history to defend an Olympic title.
Fellow 2019 individual World Championship medallists Scott, Greenbank and Wilby are likely to challenge for podium places, as is former world champion sprinter Ben Proud.
Team GB men claimed relay silver medals in the men's 4x200m freestyle and 4x100m medley events five years ago and are expected to be in contention for gold in Japan.
Five swimmers swam under the 200m freestyle consideration time at the British trials, with Rio Olympians Scott and Guy likely to be joined in that line-up by highly impressive newcomers Tom Dean and Matt Richards.
With Rio Olympic silver medallist Jazz Carlin having retired and Siobhan-Marie O'Connor missing out after struggles with ulcerative colitis, Tokyo 2020 will be an opportunity for new names to emerge on the women's side of the squad.
Renshaw set a world-leading time in the 200m breaststroke at the British trials, while European champion Freya Anderson, 2020 breakout star Abbie Wood, Scottish backstroker Kathleen Dawson and Welsh Commonwealth champion Alys Thomas - who will make her Olympic debut aged 30 - are all potential medal contenders.
English Commonwealth gold medallIst Aimee Willmott will be competing in her third Games, having postponed retirement by 12 months to compete in the postponed Olympics.
British Swimming can select up to 35 athletes for the Games, so seven further swimmers could attain consideration times at the European Championships or the Glasgow International Meet next month, with a final selection opportunity possible via the Mare Nostrum series in early June.
Tokyo selection 'out of this world' as record six Welsh swimmers named
Team GB's Tokyo 2020 swimming squad
(Swimmer - home town, club)
Adam Peaty - Uttoxeter, Loughborough National Centre (pre-selected in January 2021)
Abbie Wood - Buxton, Loughborough National Centre
Aimee Willmott - Middlesborough, University of Stirling
Alicia Wilson - Tadworth, Guilford City
Alys Thomas - Swansea, Swansea University
Anna Hopkin - Chorley, Loughborough National Centre
Ben Proud - London, Bath University
Brodie Williams - Street, Bath National Centre
Calum Jarvis - Wadebridge, Bath National Centre
Cassie Wild - Chester, University of Stirling
Dan Jervis - Neath, Swansea University
Duncan Scott - Glasgow, University of Stirling (pre-selected in January 2021)
Freya Anderson - Upton (The Wirral), Bath National Centre
Harriet Jones - Cardiff, City of Cardiff
Jacob Peters - Poole, Bath National Centre
Jacob Whittle - Alfreton, Derventio Excel
James Guy - Bury, Bath National Centre
James Wilby - York, Loughborough National Centre (pre-selected in January 2021)
Joe Litchfield - Pontefract, Loughborough National Centre
Kathleen Dawson, Warrington, University of Stirling
Kieran Bird - Bicester, Bath National Centre
Luke Greenbank - Cockermouth, Loughborough National Centre (pre-selected in January 2021)
Matthew Richards - Droitwich, Bath National Centre
Max Litchfield - Pontefract, Loughborough National Centre
Molly Renshaw - Mansfield, Loughborough National Centre
Ross Murdoch - Balloch, University of Stirling
Sarah Vasey - Derby, Loughborough National Centre
Tom Dean - Maidenhead, Bath National Centre