54 athletes have been named to British Swimming’s World Class Performance Program for the 2023/24 season, including Olympic medalists Adam Peaty, Duncan Scott and Matthew Richards.
As in the past, the list includes swimmers who are a part of either the Podium or Podium Potential tiers.
Following an extensive selection procedure, which takes into account an analysis of athletes’ current and past performances to gauge Olympic medal potential, the chosen athletes are eligible to receive training camp and competition opportunities throughout the season.
They also have access to world-class sports science and medicine services, as well as enhanced support from British Swimming performance staff and National Institute of Sport programmes across the UK. Athletes will also receive targeted financial assistance from UK Sport through the World Class Performance Programme’s Athlete Performance Award (APA).
Although the total number of swimmers remains the same at 54, the podium potential tier saw a reduction of last year’s 33 swimmers down to 30 this time around.
Additionally, the clubs associated with each swimmer lend insight into some relatively recent training base changes.
For instance, teen freestyler Jacob Whittle is now listed as a Bath Performance Centre athlete when he had previously been stationed at Loughborough. It appears he’ll be reconnecting with longtime coach Jamie Main there.
Speedster Lewis Burras originally followed his coach Zoe Baker to West Australia when she took over Peel Aquatics last year. Now, however, the national record holder is listed as a Loughborough University athlete.
British Swimming’s Performance Director Chris Spice said of these World Class Pathway swimmers, “With a set of impressive performances under their belts from the previous season, the challenge for our swimmers now is to move on from that and make the improvements required as we move into an Olympic year”, said Spice.
“We’ve had tremendous success in the years following the last Olympics in Tokyo, and we’re in a great position to build on that heading towards Paris next summer, with the commitment and technical abilities of our athletes supported by world-class coaches and staff at all levels.
“With the 2023-2024 season presenting the added hurdle of a World Championships to contend with, the focus is still very much on managing our swimmers’ loads and ensuring that we get the very best out of those that will step on the blocks at the Olympic Games.”
While mainstay names like Freya Anderson, Luke Greenbank, Anna Hopkin and James Guy are to be expected, there are some newcomers among the Podium Potential group which adds some new blood.
Matthew Ward of Bath was a triple bronze medalist at this year’s European Junior Championships while Jonathon Adam took double gold at the inaugural U23 Championships. Additionally, on her 14th birthday, Amelie Blocksidge earned her first-ever British senior title by taking the 1500m free at this year’s British Swimming Championships.
Swimmers invited onto the 2023-2024 World Class Programme (WCP)
Podium
Freya Anderson, Bath Performance Centre (England)
Lewis Burras, Loughborough University (England)
Freya Colbert, Loughborough Performance Centre (England)
Kathleen Dawson, University of Stirling (Scotland)
Thomas Dean, Bath Performance Centre (England)
Luke Greenbank, Loughborough Performance Centre (England)
James Guy, Millfield School (England)
Medi Harris, Loughborough Performance Centre (Wales)
Lucy Hope, University of Stirling (Scotland)
Anna Hopkin, Loughborough Performance Centre (England)
Daniel Jervis, Swim Wales High Performance Centre (Wales)
Joe Litchfield, Loughborough Performance Centre (England)
Oliver Morgan, University of Birmingham (England)
Adam Peaty, Loughborough Performance Centre (England)
Jacob Peters, Bath Performance Centre (England)
Benjamin Proud, University of Bath (England)
Matthew Richards, Millfield School (Wales)
Duncan Scott, University of Stirling (Scotland)
Katie Shanahan, University of Stirling (Scotland)
Laura Stephens, Loughborough Performance Centre (England)
Jacob Whittle, Bath Performance Centre (England)
James Wilby, Loughborough Performance Centre (England)
Brodie Williams, Bath Performance Centre (England)
Abbie Wood, Loughborough Performance Centre (England)
Podium Potential
Jonathon Adam, Bath Performance Centre (England)
Amelie Blocksidge, City of Salford SC (England)
Cameron Brooker, Bath Performance Centre (England)
Charlie Brown, Loughborough Performance Centre (England)
Skye Carter, Basildon & Phoenix SC (England)
Alexander Cohoon, Loughborough University (England)
Phoebe Cooper, City of Sheffield (England)
Lauren Cox, Loughborough University (England)
Evelyn Davis, University of Stirling (Scotland)
Evie Dilley, Millfield School (England)
Lucy Grieve, University of Stirling (Scotland)
Kara Hanlon, Edinburgh University (Scotland)
Robbie Hemmings, Bath Performance Centre (England)
Charlie Hutchison, Loughborough Performance Centre (Scotland)
Evan Jones, University of Stirling (Scotland)
Blythe Kinsman, Mount Kelly (England)
Emily Large, Millfield School (England)
Keanna MacInnes, University of Stirling (Scotland)
Jack McMillan, University of Stirling (Northern Ireland)
Tyler Melbourne-Smith, Loughborough University (Wales)
Edward Mildred, Bath Performance Centre (England)
Eva Okaro, Repton (England)
Alexander Painter, Millfield School (England)
Hector Pardoe, Loughborough University (Wales)
Sienna Robinson, Loughborough University (England)
Reuben Rowbotham-Keating, Loughborough University (England)
Leah Schlosshan, City of Leeds SC (England)
George Smith, University of Stirling (England)
Matthew Ward, Bath Performance Centre (Scotland)
Elliot Woodburn, Millfield School (England)
Interested to see what Burras and Whittle can do after their training centre switches. We need a consistent 4th member for that 4×1 Free squad.
Pray for Whittle, he’s getting Nutty’d! Should have gone to Milfield!
I’m not familiar with Alexander Cohoon. Perhaps he could be?
he swam amazingly at this year’s trials and still carried some form for the rest of the season; if he improves at a similar rate we have heats relay leg contender there
I like Ben Proud, but for years have felt that he ‘gets away’ very lightly at international meets, compared to his rivals, in only swimming the 50 free and sometimes 50 ‘fly. Surely his 100 free is still good enough to make a contribution?
Oh! I see he swam a LC 100 last year and only managed 51.24. Unless, of course, he used it to blast off a fast 50.
I’d rate Mildred ahead of him, Cohoon’s our 7th or 8th quickest 100 freestyler right now
Mildred will be amazing when he leaves Bath, akin to Richards!
Yeah he definitely seems like he’d be a lot better off leaving Bath, same with Freya.
Josh Gammon snubbed for the 2nd time this year by British Swimming.
if only he’d fully commit to 1 fly instead of doing both 1 & 2 fly; we know this informs their decisions; they have guy, peters, Mildred and even duncan to fill a fly leg in a medley relay;
Large, Macinnes, Hanlon – I’d have them in the upper tier.
Imogen not on the list is a surprise
Re: Imogen. Unless form 50s are made into Olympic events, this situation will continue.
Not surprising, though, is it?