For several years the writers at SwimSwam have put their heads together and set about picking their top 100 male and female swimmers for the year ahead based both on performance historically and potential looking forward. This is always done with greater emphasis placed on what they think might happen for the upcoming season, with an eye also on who the bolters might be.
It remains hugely subjective (expect perhaps for Leon Marchand and Summer McIntosh topping the lists, where few would probably disagree) and a chance to stimulate debate, rather than hard and fast rankings, but it remains interesting to review the lists with a GB focus and to see what those looking in from outside make of the British swimming scene, so here’s a look at this year’s outcomes.
The Women
Steady as she goes for the British women with one new joiner and two dropping out keeping the tally at a respectable 6 entries in the list. Freya Colbert tops the tree for 2025, building from a world title and 4th placed Olympic finish in 2024 which both stand her in good stead for the coming season.
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freya Colbert | 41 | 52 | – | ↑ 11 |
| Angharad Evans | 45 | – | – | – |
| Abbie Wood | 47 | 89 | 66 | ↑ 42 |
| Freya Anderson | 62 | 81 | 62 | ↑ 19 |
| Katie Shanahan | 79 | 46 | 92 | ↓ 33 |
| Amelie Blocksidge | 80 | 95 | – | ↑ 15 |
| Lauren Cox | – | 53 | – | |
| Laura Stephens | – | 60 | – |
Angharad Evans blasts straight into the top 50 after her breakthrough season and with massive potential to improve further this isn’t much of a surprise. Abbie Wood and Freya Anderson also moved up – the former boosted by a great showing in the 200IM Paris in one of the toughest events around at the moment and a stellar world short course. Anderson had dropped back in 2024 but regained lost ground despite a difficult season with her health that ended with suggestions she was getting back to her best form.
An encouraging feature of this list is the the general trend where all the swimmers moved up the table apart from Katie Shanahan, who probably has reason to feel a little harshly done by in dropping 33 spots.
The Men
More of the same for the men this year as the two who left the list were matched by two joiners. Duncan Scott took over as the highest ranked British man, remarkably for the first time, as he essentially trod water at 17th spot
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duncan Scott | 17 | 15 | 18 | ↓ 2 |
| Adam Peaty | 28 | 64 | 14 | ↑ 36 |
| Matt Richards | 31 | 14 | 63 | ↓ 17 |
| Ben Proud | 33 | 32 | 29 | ↓ 1 |
| Tom Dean | 50 | 10 | 22 | ↓ 40 |
| Max LItchfield | 93 | – | – | – |
| James Guy | 100 | – | – | – |
| Ollie Morgan | – | 73 | – | |
| Jacob Peters | – | 94 | – |
Adam Peaty bounced back from his low showing last year following a resurgence in 2024, Matt Richards surprisingly dropped 17 places perhaps having been out of sight out of mind following the Olympics, while Ben Proud held his station.
New to the list were Max Litchfield, so unlucky in Paris, and James Guy whose lifetime best in the 200 free relay gives optimism there is till more to come from him
The big faller was Tom Dean who dropped 40 spots to the cusp of the top 50. It could be argued that the publicity around his tilt at 5 medals in Paris swung opinions on last years list. More surprising that that drop though was Ollie Morgan dropping out entirely. The Birmingham swimmer had a strong 2024, has started 2025 in great form and is well set to make a big impact this year.
What does it all mean? Absolutely nothing in practice, but it’s always fun to raise an eyebrow or two at the rankings. As with all sport though nothing is won on paper and no medals are handed out for this list so we’ll only know what it really means when the medals start being handed out in Singapore.
Check out the full lists for Swimswam
Banner image: Aquatics GB.