Aquatics GB has named a team of 10 pool swimmers along with a full complement of the Olympic marathon swimming team who will all contest this year’s European Championships in Belgrade in June.
With the close proximity to the Olympic Games, the pool team headed to Paris was never in contention and as such this squad represents a group of up and coming talent with nine of the 10 pool swimmers making their senior international debuts; Ed Mildred the sole exception.
Performances at the Olympic trials were a key determining factor it was little surprise to see the likes of Holly McGill and Alexander Painter, who excelled over 200m backstroke and sprint freestyle respectively in London, included, while winner of the 200m fly Josh Gammon is also rewarded for a strong showing that also included a surprise runner up spot in the 100m butterfly.
Speaking immediately after the runners up placing in the women’s equivalent in London that ultimately secured her place in this team, Lucy Grieve was keen to take this opportunity if offered. “I’d be up to go anywhere to be fair” she said, “it’s always fun racing internationally.”
She will no doubt take on the 100m fly in Serbia, after carving huge swathes off her lifetime best in London. “I’ve been going 59.1’s a lot, I mean Steve [Tigg, her coach in Stirling] jokes that I’ve done more 59.1’s than anyone he’s ever met. ” she said having dropped down to 58.31 in the final, a result that came off a strong showing in the short course season.
“I’d say my strengths are definitely starts and turns over the actual swimming part” she acknowledges, “so long course season I always feel a little bit lost without my walls.
“But I mean we’ve started working on the one turn that I have trying to do as many kicks as I could off the wall, because I know that’s the strength of mine. I’m not maybe as fast as the other girls over the water but under water I’m better. So I think that’s been a real focus for me.”
The full team heading to Belgrade is as follows. Swimming takes place from the 17th to the 23rd of June with the marathon swimmers taking on the 10m even t on the 12th.
Pool Swimming
- Calvin Fry, Loughborough University
- Joshua Gammon, Bath University
- Lucy Grieve, University of Stirling
- Fleur Lewis, Loughborough University
- Holly McGill, University of Stirling
- Ed Mildred, Bath Performance Centre
- Alexander Painter, Millfield
- Leah Schlosshan, City of Leeds
- Jack Skerry, Bath Performance Centre
- Matthew Ward, Bath Performance Centre
Marathon Swimming
- Hector Pardoe, Loughborough University
- Toby Robinson, Loughborough University
- Leah Crisp, Bath Performance Centre
Banner Image: Ed Mildred courtesy LEN/Patrick B Kramer.