2016 BRITISH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS/OLYMPIC TRIALS
- Tuesday, April 12th – Sunday, April 17th
- Tollcross International Swimming Center, Glasgow, Scotland
- Prelims at 10am local/6am EDT; Finals at 6:30pm local/1:30pm EDT
- British Swimming 2016 Olympic Games Selection Policy
- Live Streaming
- DRAFT Psych Sheet
- Start Lists/Results
“I’m always happy with what I’ve done, but I’m never satisfied.”
Those were the words of the newest British Record holder, 19-year old Chloe Tutton in her post-race interview.
Tutton improved her lifetime best by more than three seconds on Wednesday in Glasgow, and broke the British Record by a second-and-a-half, in swimming a 2:22.34. While she’s technically short of the Automatic Olympic Qualifying Time, that result should give her enough momentum to earn a spot under the secondary selection standards.
Tutton also said that the buildup to the race has been intense for her, and that she’s “so relieved that it’s over,” but indicated a confidence that she’s got more in her.
Original Report
19-year old Chloe Tutton from the City of Cardiff swim club has broken the British National Record by a resounding margin.
What’s even more stunning is where Tutton sat coming into this meet to where she’ll emerge from it.
Tutton’s 2:22.34 on Tuesday at the British Olympic Trials improved upon the 2:23.82 that Molly Renshaw, Tutton’s peer in age, did at the 2014 European Aquatics Championships. Renshaw occupied the adjacent lane and swam 2:23.56, which is also faster than her old British National Record.
Before comparing Tutton’s swims to the records, we think it’s worthy to compare them to her previous best time (done in March of this year), and her second-best time, done a year ago at the 2015 British Championships:
- Tutton (’16 New British Record): 32.66 / 1:08.88 / 1:45.09 / 2:22.34
- Tutton (’16 Previous Personal Best): 33.99 / 1:11.39 / 1:48.52 / 2:25.67
- Tutton (’15 Previous Personal Best): 33.55 / 1:10.86 / 1:49.18 / 2:26.76
Presented by 50:
- Tutton (’16 New British Record): 32.66/36.22/36.21/37.25 = 2:22.34
- Tutton (’16 Previous Personal Best): 33.99 / 37.40 / 37.13 / 37.15 = 2:25.67
- Tutton (’15 Previous Personal Best): 33.55 / 37.31 / 38.32 / 37.58 = 2:26.76
Her improvement curve is a fairly traditional one seen in younger swimmers, and those not at this high of an elite level internationally. A swimmer has a really good taper one year, comes back the next year and holds much of that quality, perhaps swimming a best time in-season, or very close to it. Then, that swimmers goes to their big championship meet, throws caution to the wind, opens up with energy, and holds on to destroy their lifetime best.
While a typical pattern for, perhaps, a swimmer to get from a 2:35 to a 2:32 in this event, it’s not one usually seen to take them from 2:26 to 2:22 – a world-class time.
Below is the National Record comparison:
- Tutton ’16 (New GBR Record): 32.66/36.22/36.21/37.25 = 2:22.34
- Henshaw ’16 (Also under Record): 33.12/35.79/36.83/37.82 = 2:23.56
- Henshaw ’14 (old GBR Record): 33.46/36.49/37.63/36.24 = 2:23.82
Despite their double-dip under the British mark, neither swimmer automatically qualified for the Olympics based on the stiff British qualifying standards. They will await the results of the rest of the meet and the discretionary selections by the National Team staff.