Budapest-bound team named for 2022 World Championships

Eight of Britain's Olympic champions from nine months ago - Adam Peaty, Anna Hopkin, Tom Dean, Kathleen Dawson, James Guy, Freya Anderson, Duncan Scott and Matt Richards - are part of a group that blends experienced championship performers with exciting youth and will compete across the first eight days of the World Championships programme, which runs from 17th June-3rd July 2022.

James Wilby and Luke Greenbank, two others to stand on the Tokyo podium and who were crowned world champions at the last World Championships in Gwangju three years ago, are also selected to compete at the iconic Duna Arena.

Meanwhile, nine of the team are set to make their World Championship debut, with Lewis Burras, Freya Colbert and Medi Harris - who all caught the eye with their performances at last week's British Swimming Championships - making their first senior international appearances for Britain on the global stage.

The 2022 World Championships is the benchmark meet for Britain's elite swimmers at the start of a busy summer of aquatics action and the beginning of the three-year cycle into the next Olympics of Paris 2024. The last World Championships served up a third 50m-100m Breaststroke gold double for Peaty - as well as a brilliant gold-silver combo, with Wilby, in the 100m event - a breakthrough 200m Backstroke bronze for Greenbank and that unforgettable Men's 4x100m Medley Relay triumph, rounded out with a genuinely world-class anchor leg of freestyle from the indomitable Scott.

Speaking about the selections for the 2022 edition, British Swimming Performance Director Chris Spice said: "It was fantastic to be back at a full British Championships at Ponds Forge last week, seeing exceptional swims from some of our established names alongside a long line of personal bests and standout performances from younger athletes.

"While pre-selections for Budapest from our Olympic results meant some swimmers adapted their plans for the meet, we were not short on world-class quality each day. Duncan Scott's British record in the Men's 400m Individual Medley was a big highlight, as was that Men's 200m Freestyle finale, while athletes like Abbie Wood, Daniel Jervis and Lewis Burras all showed the strong positions they are in at this stage of the season with multiple British titles.

"Now the focus very much turns to ensuring this team can produce season's best performances when it matters most, on the World Championship stage. We have seen time and again in recent years that our swimmers are capable of bringing their best to the fore at the perfect moment, and we will be working between now and mid-June to make sure everyone is in a position to do that.

"It was also exciting for the selectors to be able to select so many young, up-and-coming athletes who will gain priceless major arena experience, while also pushing for big swims. Relays have been an important focus for British Swimming over recent years, and our discretionary selections allow us as many relay options as possible as we build towards Paris 2024." 

Ahead of making her senior debut for Britain in Budapest, Nova Centurions athlete Freya Colbert said: “I’m super excited to be selected, if not a bit surprised, as my best at British Championships was better than I could’ve imagined! Making my first senior international team is a massive achievement for myself - I know how difficult the transition from junior to senior can be and so I’m excited to be given the opportunity.

“Being on the team with such experienced and successful athletes will create a great learning environment for myself and I can’t wait to get on that plane to Budapest.”

The British Swimming team for the 2022 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary

Kathleen Dawson, University of Stirling

Thomas Dean, Bath National Centre

Luke Greenbank, Loughborough National Centre

Daniel Jervis, Swansea University

Adam Peaty, Loughborough National Centre (Withdrawn: Peaty to miss Budapest through injury)

Benjamin Proud, Bath University

Molly Renshaw, Loughborough National Centre

Duncan Scott, University of Stirling

James Wilby, Loughborough National Centre

Abbie Wood, Loughborough National Centre

The athletes above gained selection based on top-six finishes in individual events at Tokyo 2020, as per clause 5.1 of the selection policy

James Guy, Bath National Centre

Anna Hopkin, Loughborough National Centre

Matthew Richards, Bath National Centre

The athletes above gained selection based on winning a relay medal, and swimming in that relay’s final, at Tokyo 2020, as per clause 5.2 of the selection policy

Lewis Burras, Winchester City

The athletes above gained selection after placing first or second in an event at the British Swimming Championships and achieving the relevant consideration time, as per clause 5.4 of the selection policy

Jacob Whittle, Loughborough National Centre

The athletes above gained selection after meeting the criteria for relay additions under the relevant consideration times, as per clause 5.5 of the selection policy

Freya Anderson, Bath National Centre

Freya Colbert, Nova Centurions

Medi Harris, Swansea University

Lucy Hope, University of Stirling

Joe Litchfield, Loughborough National Centre

Jacob Peters, Bath National Centre

Laura Stephens, Loughborough National Centre

Brodie Williams, Bath National Centre

The athletes above gained selection at the discretion of the GB Head Coach and Performance Director. The criteria for these decisions included the need to develop relay teams for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games; provision of relay cover and alternates to rest key athletes with large schedules; potential to make the Paris 2024 Olympic team; individual performances over the last 12 months and performances at the 2022 British Swimming Championships.

Coaches selected to the British team for the 2022 World Championships

Adam Baker, Swim Wales High Performance Centre

David Hemmings, Loughborough National Centre

Mel Marshall, Loughborough National Centre

David McNulty, Bath National Centre

Steven Tigg, University of Stirling