Six Scots Selected to World Championships Squad in Kazan

"The competition this year gets tougher as they take on the best in the world. “Everyone is back in training to make sure that their performances move on in Kazan and we are confident that they will do this." Scottish National Coach, Alan Lynn

A 30-strong British Swimming team has been selected to compete at this summer’s FINA World Championships in Kazan.

Among them are six Scottish swimmers:  Hannah Miley, Stephen Milne, Ross Murdoch, Robbie Renwick, Duncan Scott and Dan Wallace all of whom produced excellent results at last week’s British Championships in London to secure their selection.

Scottish Swimming’s National Coach, Alan Lynn, commented,

"Congratulations to the six Scottish swimmers selected for this summers' World Championships. Following our successful Commonwealth Games performances in 2014, the competition this year gets tougher as they take on the best in the world.

“Everyone is back in training to make sure that their performances move on in Kazan and we are confident that they will do this."

British Swimming Head Coach Bill Furniss was pleased with what he saw at the British Championships last week in London where athletes competed for selection.

“It was a tough week but we saw some very good performances as both athletes and coaches rose to the challenge,” said Furniss.

“As a result of those performances I feel we’ve got a well balanced team with particular strength in depth across several events. The way we have selected the team has enabled us to maximise our strengths both in individual events and across the relays.”

While recognising performances in London, Furniss has encouraged the team to take the next step up towards the World Championships where the task will be greater.

“The challenge for everyone is to move our performances on between now and the summer,” said Furniss. “Athletes have done a good job to make the team but our primary focus is to improve performances in the summer and we will leave no stone unturned in pursuit of this.”

The World Championships in Kazan will be the first for City of Derby’s Adam Peaty and follows a remarkable breakthrough year for the Breaststroke swimmer.

“I’m excited and proud to make my first full, world championship team and to represent my country in one of the biggest international arenas,” said Peaty.

“I was pleased with my performances to make the team but you can’t stop there. I know there are improvements I can still make and these are what I will be working on as I focus on the World Championships.

“Last year I spent my time hunting down swimmers who were faster than me. This time I’m the one that others will be targeting so I need to work harder than ever before to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

University of Stirling Head Coach, Ben Higson, has also been selected as  part of the coaching staff for the World Championships

The swimming events at the FINA World Championships take place in Kazan, Russia between 2-9 Aug.

The British Swimming Team comprises:

James Guy                         Millfield

Chris Walker-Hebborn           NC Bath

Adam Peaty                        City of Derby

Roberto Pavoni                    NC Loughborough

Jazz Carlin                          NC Bath

Siobhan-Marie O’Connor         NC Bath

Hannah Miley                           Garioch

Elizabeth Simmonds              NC Bath

The athletes above gained selection after they won their event and achieved the qualification standard at the British Championships.

Thomas Laxton                    Loughborough University

Calum Jarvis                       NC Bath

Ross Murdoch                          University of Stirling

Robbie Renwick                      University of Stirling

Nick Grainger                      City of Sheffield

Andrew Willis                      NC Bath

Aimee Willmott                   London Aquatic Centre PP

Eleanor Faulkner                  City of Sheffield

Rebecca Turner                    City of Sheffield

Sophie Taylor                      London Aquatic Centre PP

Rachael Kelly                      NC Loughborough

Fran Halsall                        NC Loughborough

Ben Proud                          Plymouth Leander

Duncan Scott                           University of Stirling

Lauren Quigley                    Stockport Metro

Stephen Milne                          Perth City

Dan Wallace                             Warrender

The athletes above gained selection after they achieved a time within 2% of the set benchmark time included within the policy (individual and relay). 

Liam Tancock                      NC Loughborough

Adam Barrett                      NC Loughborough

Jessica Thielmann                University of Florida

Molly Renshaw                     NC Loughborough

Jemma Lowe                       NC Bath

The athletes above gained selection at the discretion of the British Head Coach and National Performance Director. The criteria for these decisions included provision of relay cover and alternates to rest key athletes that have large schedules; a proven track record as a relay swimmer at major international meets; individual performances over the last 12 months and performances at the British Championships 2015.

Coaches selected to the British Team for the World Championships are:

Russ Barber                        City of Sheffield

Jol Finck                            Millfield

James Gibson                     NC Loughborough

Ben Higson                               University of Stirling

Mel Marshall                       City of Derby

David McNulty                     NC Bath