Peaty will lead GB swimmers at the greatest show on earth
14 LOUGHBOROUGH COMPETITORS INCLUDED IN SQUAD FOR OLYMPICS
NO fewer than 14 Loughboroughbased swimmers have achieved their dreams of being selected by Team GB for the Olympic Games, writes Tom Harle, of Sportsbeat.
The university’s world-leading training group forms nearly half of the 33-strong swimming squad set to represent Great Britain at the greatest show on earth.
Pool swimming events in the French capital start on July 27 at La Defense Arena, a venue which Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour will visit in midMay.
Subject to water quality, openwater swimming events will take place in the River Seine in the heart of the French capital, with the men’s 10km slated for Friday, August 9.
The team features five three-time Olympians, seven Olympic champions, nine Olympic medallists and 10 debutants.
Loughborough-based Adam Peaty, 29, will be the figurehead of a Team GB squad, aiming to emulate their record-breaking feats at Tokyo 2020 in 2021.
The triple Olympic champion said: “I’m thrilled to have made my third Olympic team.
“It’s always amazing to be part of Team GB, but with it being so close to home in Paris this summer, and us having more home fans there supporting us, it’s even more exciting.”
Anna Hopkin returns to the Olympic stage after combining with Peaty to clinch gold at Tokyo 2020 in the inaugural staging of the mixed 4x100m medley relay event.
Hopkin’s boyfriend Luke Greenbank, who won Team GB’s first-ever medal in the men’s 200m backstroke with bronze in Tokyo, will aim to add to his haul in France.
Max Litchfield, who has recently returned to train at Loughborough, will hope to take the final step on to the Olympic podium after finishing fourth at two successive Olympics, and he is joined in the team by brother Joe.
Loughborough graduate Abbie Wood is also back, having placed fourth in Tokyo. Tokyo Olympic silver medallist James Wilby narrowly missed the individual nomination time at the Aquatics GB Swimming Championships but will give Team GB a valuable medley relay option.
Aquatics GB performance director Chris Spice said: “This is such an exciting group of athletes that we will be taking to Paris this summer.
“On top of some outstanding individual swims, the collective displays showed that we are in a really good place across multiple relay events, which has been a key focus for us over recent years – and the depth that this team possesses is fantastic.
“We cannot wait to see how this team comes together with the aim of swimming faster in the summer.
“We know each and every athlete can do that, and that would put us in a very good place in Paris, where we are relishing having packed crowds and plenty of British support roaring us on.”
Hopes are high for two current Loughborough University students.
Freya Colbert heads to the Games as reigning world champion in the 400m individual medley, while Laura Stephens is hoping to build on her shock 200m butterfly triumph in Doha.
Breakout backstrokers Medi Harris and Honey Osrin complete the bumper contingent that call the East Midlands home. Team GB chef de mission Mark England said: “Team GB has a proud tradition in Olympic swimming competitions and I am delighted to welcome all 33 athletes to the team for Paris 2024.
“The strength and depth of our pool swimming team was evident to see at the recent Aquatics GB Swimming Championships.
“I have no doubt the thrilling races we saw at the British Championships last week will be equally close fought.” Team GB will field three athletes in openwater swimming events for the first time since Beijing 2008.
Two of them train at Loughborough – Hector Pardoe, who nearly lost an eye in a collision on his debut in Tokyo, and Toby Robinson. England added: “It is also fantastic to have three athletes contesting the marathon swimming races for the first time since 2008.
“We’re excited to watch them all compete against the best in the world.”
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