Nine Scots heading for European Championships

Two days after 24 athletes had their names added to the list that will be representing Team GB on the biggest sporting stage later this year, British Swimming can confirm that all of the Olympic team selected thus far will head to Hungary's Duna Arena for the European Aquatics Championships with the swimming schedule for the multi-discipline Championships running from 17th-23rd May.

That cohort includes Duncan Scott, James Wilby, Luke Greenbank and reigning Olympic, world, European and Commonwealth champion Adam Peaty, who were already pre-selected. Joining the Olympic team will be Lucy Hope (Edinburgh University), Evelyn Davis (Bromley), Katie Shanahan (City of Glasgow Swim Team) and Emma Russell and Keanna MacInnes (both University of Stirling).

The Europeans will provide a chance for the soon-to-be Olympic class of 2021 to further hone their arena skills and build on important training work. The Budapest meet is also another key qualification opportunity for those who narrowly missed out at the recent British Swimming Selection Trials and will also offer an opportunity for some of the younger names to gain vital major competition experience with Paris 2024 only three years away. A further 12 swimmers have been included, in addition to the Olympic squad, meaning a 40-strong swimming team will board the plane to Budapest.

On top of that, marathon swimmers Hector Pardoe, Toby Robinson and Emily Clarke will take their place in the squad to compete in the marathon swimming events as part of the Championships.

With international racing opportunities so limited over the past year, National Performance Director Chris Spice is looking forward to seeing British athletes back in the water alongside top-class rivals from across the continent.

"This event comes at an opportune moment as we step up our final preparations for Tokyo, bringing the team together for the first time since our announcement on Tuesday,” he said.

"Whilst we have enjoyed the experience of domestic racing with the recent Selection Trials and the two meets in Manchester before that, this will be our first time back in international competition in over a year. This will be another big step forward, and we fully support and thank LEN and our fellow European national teams for committing to this important racing opportunity. We are confident that the protocols and guidance will be in place to ensure the safest possible environment for our athletes, coaches and support staff.

"The European Championships are also another important element in our Olympic selection policy, so the week of racing will be an opportunity for some athletes to put in the performances they need to and that we know they are capable of. It is also a key chance to test out our relay squads and seek Olympic qualification where necessary, whilst for the younger members of the squad, it will be a valuable learning experience on their journey into Paris 2024 and beyond.”

National Coach for Scottish Swimming, Alan Lynn, said,

"The European Championships are a great opportunity to gain intense, high-quality racing experience. For our experienced swimmers, it's another moment to measure up against long-time rivals. For the younger competitors, it's an invaluable chance to learn and be challenged in a senior championship environment.

 "The fact that we have so many swimmers on the British Swimming team is tangible proof of the great partnerships we have across our sport. We don't take for granted the support given by Scottish Government, sportscotland, Glasgow Life, Edinburgh Leisure, Aberdeen Sports Village, and the Universities of Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Stirling & Strathclyde in providing access to training and racing facilities during the pandemic. We are grateful and thankful that the sport of swimming was able to return to some activity when others were not and look forward to seeing all our clubs back in the water soon."

As ever, Britain's athletes will look to challenge across the programme - and their displays in the Men's 200m Freestyle will again be monitored closely by rivals from across the world after the jaw-dropping quality on show recently.

Given the selections already made to the Olympic team, qualification quotas are already filled in the following events:

Women

100m Freestyle; 100m Backstroke; 100m Breaststroke; 200m Breaststroke; 200m Individual Medley

Men

100m Freestyle; 200m Freestyle; 100m Breaststroke; 200m Breaststroke; 100m Butterfly; 200m Individual Medley; 400m Individual Medley

We would also like to advise that, due to ever-changing COVID circumstances, the final Olympic consideration meet will now be called the ‘Glasgow Swim Meet’. The dates have shifted to 3^rd-6^th June, and the meet will have evening heats and morning finals. Information regarding this meet will be published on the British Swimming website from 3^rd May, with entries opening for a limited period from this date.

British Swimming team selected to compete at the LEN European Championships in Budapest, Hungary (17th-23rd May)

Olympic-qualified athletes

Freya Anderson – England, Bath National Centre

Kieran Bird – Wales, Bath National Centre

Kathleen Dawson – Scotland, University of Stirling

Tom Dean – England, Bath National Centre

Luke Greenbank – England, Loughborough National

James Guy – England, Bath National Centre

Anna Hopkin – England, Loughborough National Centre

Calum Jarvis - Wales, Bath National Centre

Dan Jervis – Wales, Swansea University

Harriet Jones – Wales, City of Cardiff

Joe Litchfield – England, Loughborough National Centre

Max Litchfield – England, Loughborough National Centre

Ross Murdoch – Scotland, University of Stirling

Adam Peaty – England, Loughborough National Centre

Jacob Peters - England, Bath National Centre

Ben Proud – England, Bath University

Molly Renshaw – England, Loughborough National Centre

Matthew Richards - Wales, Bath National Centre

Duncan Scott – Scotland, University of Stirling

Alys Thomas – Wales, Swansea University

Sarah Vasey - England, Loughborough National Centre

Jacob Whittle - England, Derventio Excel

James Wilby – England, Loughborough National Centre

Cassie Wild - Scotland, University of Stirling

Brodie Williams - England, Bath National Centre

Aimee Willmott - England, University of Stirling

Alicia Wilson – England, Guilford City

Abbie Wood – England, Loughborough National Centre

European athletes

Elliot Clogg – England, Loughborough National Centre

Evelyn Davis – Scotland, Bromley

Holly Hibbott – England, Bath National Centre

Lucy Hope – Scotland, Edinburgh University

Emily Large – England, Bath National Centre

Keanna MacInnes – Scotland, University of Stirling

James McFadzen – England, Loughborough University

Ed Mildred – England, Northampton SC

Emma Russell – Scotland, University of Stirling

Katie Shanahan – Scotland, City of Glasgow SC

Laura Stephens – England, Plymouth Leander

Tamryn Van Selm – England, Millfield

European marathon swimming athletes

Emily Clarke – England, Loughborough University

Hector Pardoe – England, Ellesmere College Titans

Toby Robinson – England, Loughborough National Centre