British Swimming last week named the swimmers to the two world class programme funding groups for the 2022-23 season. This announcement came later than usual but marks an evolution rather than a wholesale shake up of the programme, despite the total number of funded swimmers growing by 8 since last year
Podium
The top group of swimmers saw several changes and added three athletes to grow to a total cohort of 20 athletes.
Of the three swimmers moving off this tier, two were retirements with Calum Jarvis calling time after the Commonwealth Games, and Molly Renshaw doing likewise in the autumn. The third, Max Litchfield is still mired in the out-of-pool issues that kept him away from international competition in 2022, and it remains unclear when he may be able to return.
In their place, there is a clear relay focus as well as reward for those who broke through this year. Lewis Burras and Medi Harris clearly fit in the latter category, while Joe Litchfield and Jacob Whittle are recognised for their contributions to the men’s relays in Budapest. Brodie Williams has been on the scene for a few years but took a big step forward this year with 4th at the world championships and the Commonwealth title over 200m backstroke and deservedly moves up from the podium potential group, as does Jacob Peters who proved to be an able relay alternate.
One other point of note is that Kathleen Dawson , who returned to action at the Scottish Short Course Nationals this weekend after an injury ravaged year, retains her spot
In the table below those retaining their spots are highlighted green, newcomers to the group are shown blue, while those who have left are shown orange.
| 2021/22 | 2022/23 |
|---|---|
| Freya Anderson | Freya Anderson |
| Lewis Burras | |
| Kathleen Dawson | Kathleen Dawson |
| Tom Dean | Tom Dean |
| Luke Greenbank | Luke Greenbank |
| James Guy | James Guy |
| Medi Harris | |
| Lucy Hope | Lucy Hope |
| Anna Hopkin | Anna Hopkin |
| Calum Jarvis | |
| Daniel Jervis | Daniel Jervis |
| Max Litchfield | |
| Joe Litchfield | |
| Adam Peaty | Adam Peaty |
| Jacob Peters | |
| Ben Proud | Ben Proud |
| Molly Renshaw | |
| Matt Richards | Matt Richards |
| Duncan Scott | Duncan Scott |
| Jacob Whittle | |
| James Wilby | James Wilby |
| Brodie Williams | |
| Abbie Wood | Abbie Wood |
Podium Potential
The lower funding tier always has a greater turnover than the top group and this year is no different. The retirement of Sarah Vasey moved her out, while more spaces are cleared by the 5 swimmers who moved up to the podium performance group. With 5 other swimmers from 2021/22 left off and 10 swimmers added, that grows the pool to 38 overall.
Of the departures, while Alice Dearing has not apparently made a formal announcement about her future, but has had a greater focus on her inclusion work with the Black Swimming Association this year and drops out.
Also of note is the omission of Cassie Wild. The 2021 Olympian has chosen to reboot her career in Australia and is now training at Bond University with Minna Atherton. Conversely another ex-Stirling swimmer Cam Kurle is now also based in Australia, training at the Western Australia Institute of Sport under coach Ben Higson, but he retains his funding spot, again showing the importance of maintaining a large relay contingent.
In the table below those retaining their spots are highlighted green, newcomers to the group are shown blue, while those who have left are shown orange. The unhighlighted swimmers are those who moved up to the Podium funding tier.
| 2021/22 | 2022/23 |
|---|---|
| Jonathon Adam | Jonathon Adam |
| Angus Allison | Angus Allison |
| Will Bell | William Bell |
| Kieran Bird | Kieran Bird |
| Kyle Booth | Kyle Booth |
| Cameron Brooker | Cameron Brooker |
| Charlie Brown | Charlie Brown |
| Freya Colbert | Freya Colbert |
| Evelyn Davis | Evelyn Davis |
| Alice Dearing | |
| Evie Dilley | |
| Kaden Edwards | |
| Harvey Freeman | Harvey Freeman |
| Archie Goodburn | |
| Lucy Grieve | Lucy Grieve |
| Medi Harris | |
| Robbie Hemmings | |
| Charlie Hutchison | Charlie Hutchison |
| Evan Jones | Evan Jones |
| Harriet Jones | |
| Cameron Kurle | Cameron Kurle |
| Emily Large | |
| Joe Litchfield | |
| Keanna MacInnes | Keanna MacInnes |
| James McFadzen | James McFadzen |
| Tyler Melbourne-Smith | |
| Ed Mildred | Edward Mildred |
| Eva Okaro | Eva Okaro |
| Alexander Painter | |
| Hector Pardoe | Hector Pardoe |
| Jacob Peters | |
| Sienna Robinson | Sienna Robinson |
| Toby Robinson | |
| Reuben Rowbotham-Keating | |
| Emma Russell | Emma Russell |
| Leah Schlosshan | |
| Katie Shanahan | Katie Shanahan |
| George Smith | George Smith |
| Laura Stephens | Laura Stephens |
| Kayla Van Der Merwe | |
| Tamryn Van Selm | |
| Sarah Vasey | |
| Matthew Ward | |
| Elliot Woodburn | |
| Jacob Whittle | |
| Cassie Wild | |
| Brodie Williams |
With 16 month to go until Olympic trials in 2024, its too early to read too much into this selection, but it’s clear that in the minds of the British Swimming hierarchy, the bulk of the Paris Olympic team will come from within this group. It also shows that the importance of relay medals has not been downplayed in the decision making process.
Banner image courtesy of Steve Parry