After two challenging years, Jacob Peters returned to form at the British Championships, securing European qualification and putting himself back among Britain’s top butterfly swimmers.

Two years is a long time in elite sport, especially for a swimmer who looked a certainty for a major team only to find himself on the outside looking in. Missing out on the Olympics in 204, having posted a time from the heats that would have won the final, cut deep for Jacob Peters.

“It hit me a lot harder than I realised,” he admitted poolside after swimming his second fastest time, just 0.18 from his best, in the 100m butterfly at the 2026 Aquatics GB Championships. “It took a lot longer than I realised it would to get over that. Probably up until now it’s had its lingering effects and even now it gets to me at moments.”

“I’m proud of myself, I stuck with it and also I’m really thankful to my friends and family for supporting me on what has been a tough two years.”

In London it looked like a corner had been turned. Swims of 51.34 in the 100m butterfly and 23.11 in the 50m booked his ticket to the European Championships placed him firmly in contention for the Commonwealth Games, a spot that has now been confirmed, giving him a double bill of international championships this summer.

That’s a big boost, as his confidence, he says, “took a bit of a hit,” and rebuilding it required more than just grinding out more and more metres. “It took a lot of work to get that confidence back. A change of training plan, a change of S&C coach, but at the end of the day the plan’s come together.

“I’m sure I’ll go and say thanks to my coaches. It’s been a hell of a journey these last two years, but I’m glad I stuck with it and hopefully I’m back on track and the next stop can be PB’s in the summer.”

Even then, he’s still looking longer term “I’m 25 now, I’m young, I’m not old and I’m still hoping to PB and peak in my late 20s,” he said. “Hopefully by the time LA comes, I’ll be in my prime.

What made his swims in London particularly encouraging wasn’t just the times, but the context. Peters found himself back on terms with Britain’s in-form butterflyers, including Ed Mildred, whose recent performances have set the domestic standard in the 100m. The two were once training partners at the Bath National Centre and there’s a mutual respect that adds an extra layer to a rekindled rivalry.

“I actually used to live with Ed when he trained at Bath, so we’re quite close and I’m really happy to see him doing well” he says.

“Ed’s on form at the moment, he’s doing absolutely amazing. His 200 the other day, it was spectacular. the fact that I’m this close to him when he’s obviously on good form and in good shape is a good sign.”

“Hopefully I’m on the right track, just stick with it and then maybe we can keep battling it out for British titles again and hopefully challenge together for that old British record of Jimmy’s.”

For now Peters is heading into a busy summer packed with racing. “It throws me back to a couple of years ago, 2022, when it was Worlds Commies and Europeans in one year. That was a very busy year but also a very fun one as well. I love competing for my country and I can’t wait to do it again.”

There’s a temptation to frame this turnaround as a neatly wrapped comeback story but in reality this is only the first step. The meets later in the year will provide a bigger test but he is at least now moving in the right direction again.

“It’ll be a nice summer” he says, smiling.