The list for the months ahead follows last summer’s haul of five medals at Paris 2024, including a historic defence of the men’s 4x200m free relay – which crowned six British champions at the Games – a breakthrough Olympics for many others, plus a host of medal-winning performances at the European Junior Championships.
A notable absentee from the WCP is Adam Peaty. The three-time Olympic champion took an extended break following Paris where he won silver in the 100m breaststroke before returning to the water at Repton School under the watchful eye of Jamie Main following Mel Marshall’s move to Griffith University Swim Club in Queensland, Australia.
The 30-year-old told Swimming World in December 2024 that he plans to take a long spell away from competition while maintaining a high level of fitness. He remains involved with the Aquatics GB programme and is on an adjusted training schedule at this stage of the cycle.
Angharad Evans: Photo Courtesy: Sam Mellish/Team GB.
Tokyo mixed relay champion Anna Hopkin, European and Commonwealth gold medallist Brodie Williams, Olympic finalist and double Commonwealth medallist Dan Jervis and Paris 2024 open water swimmer Toby Robinson have all retired in the past months.
Athletes are named on the WCP following a thorough selection process, which focuses on a detailed assessment of their capability to be successful at future Olympics and senior World Championships.
Swimmers are split across Podium and Podium Potential tiers, with Duncan Scott, Matt Richards, Tom Dean and James Guy among those in the Podium list on the back of success in Paris and at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka. Olympic finalists Abbie Wood, Freya Colbert, Laura Stephens and Oli Morgan are also part of the Podium section along with Luke Greenbank and Lewis Burras, who now trains at the Aquatics GB Performance Centre in Manchester with Richards and Guy.
Angharad Evans is also part of the Podium tier after announcing herself on the international stage with sixth in the 100m breaststroke in Paris. That followed her 100br national record in May last year where she became the first British woman through the 1:06 barrier in 1:05.54 before going on to win medley relay silver with Wood, Eva Okaro and Freya Anderson at the short-course worlds. the university of Stirling swimmer has had a fine start to 2025, sweeping the breaststroke treble at BUCS which included a 1:06.02 win in the 100 and a PB of almost three seconds over 200 in 2:22.64.
The Podium Potential tier, meanwhile, features several European Junior medallists from 2024, including breaststrokers Max Morgan and Theodora Taylor, who are new nominations to the World Class Programme, as well as sprint freestyle medallist Skye Carter and triple European Junior champion Amelie Blocksidge.
Athletes across the World Class Programme receive programme opportunities and targeted support from Aquatics GB and UK Sport, including key competition opportunities and training camp experiences throughout the season, while there is also access to comprehensive support from the world-leading Aquatics GB performance and sports science and sports medicine staff, and an athlete performance award.
Aquatics GB Performance Director Chris Spice said:
Amelie Blocksidge: Photo Courtesy: Aquatics GB
“The start of a new Olympic cycle is always an exciting time across our World Class Programme, with established athletes looking to build on the work and performances they have put together over previous years, and opportunities for the next crop of British swimming talent to come through and flourish on the senior international stage.
“Off the back of a successful Games in Paris, several of our top athletes have had extended breaks which they richly deserved. This will no doubt impact on our team selection and performances in Singapore – however, I am particularly keen to see which of our youngsters can move forward this year and challenge for senior team selection. This is a year for us to find new talent and start building towards LA 2028 and we can’t wait to get going. In some ways it will be nice to return to a normal calendar over the next four years.
“Aligned with the elite platform provided by our coaches and support staff at all levels, and with new Head Coach Steven Tigg at the helm following the invaluable long-time service of Bill Furniss, this is a group full of promise, and I am looking forward to seeing how they flourish – beginning at our upcoming Aquatics GB Swimming Championships, which will see so many of these swimmers targeting selection to the World Championship or junior representative teams for the summer.”
Swimmers invited on to the 2025 Aquatics GB World Class Programme
Podium
Freya Anderson, University of Stirling (England)
Kieran Bird, Bath Performance Centre (Wales)
Lewis Burras, Manchester Performance Centre (England)
Freya Colbert, Loughborough Performance Centre (England)
Kathleen Dawson, University of Stirling (Scotland)
Tom Dean, Bath Performance Centre (England)
Angharad Evans, University of Stirling (Scotland)
Luke Greenbank, Loughborough Performance Centre (England)
James Guy, Manchester Performance Centre (England)
Medi Harris, Loughborough Performance Centre (Wales)
Lucy Hope, University of Stirling (Scotland)
Joe Litchfield, Loughborough Performance Centre (England)
Max Litchfield, Loughborough Performance Centre (England)
Jack McMillan, University of Stirling (Northern Ireland)
Oliver Morgan, University of Birmingham (England)
Honey Osrin, Loughborough Performance Centre (England)
Hector Pardoe, Loughborough University (Wales)
Jacob Peters, Bath Performance Centre (England)
Ben Proud, London Performance Centre (England)
Matthew Richards, Manchester Performance Centre (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)
Abbie Wood, Loughborough Performance Centre (England)
Podium Potential
David Annis, University of Stirling (England)
Amelie Blocksidge, City of Salford (England)
Cameron Brooker, Bath Performance Centre (England)
Skye Carter, Basildon & Phoenix (England)
Alex Cohoon, Loughborough Performance Centre (England)
Phoebe Cooper, City of Sheffield (England)
Lauren Cox, Loughborough Performance Centre (England)
Evie Dilley, University of Stirling (England)
Dean Fearn, Aberdeen Dolphins/University of Stirling (Scotland)
Joshua Gammon, Bath Performance Centre (England)
Lucy Grieve, University of Stirling (Scotland)
Luke Hornsey, University of Edinburgh (Scotland)
Evan Jones, Manchester Performance Centre (Scotland)
Blythe Kinsman, Mount Kelly (England)
Keanna MacInnes, University of Stirling (Scotland)
Edward Marcal Whittles, Chelsea and Westminster (England)
Jonathon Marshall, University of Florida (England)
Tyler Melbourne-Smith, Loughborough University (Wales)
Holly McGill, University of Stirling (Scotland)
Edward Mildred, Manchester Performance Centre (England)
Jacob Mills, Repton (England)
Max Morgan, Reeds School (England)
Filip Nowacki, Millfield School (England)
Eva Okaro, Repton (England)
Emily Richards, Manchester Performance Centre (England)
Reuben Rowbotham-Keating, Loughborough University (England)
Leah Schlosshan, Manchester Performance Centre (England)
Gabriel Shepherd, City of Leeds (England)
Jack Skerry, Bath Performance Centre (England)
George Smith, University of Stirling (Scotland)
Theodora Taylor, Torfaen Dolphins (Wales)
Matthew Ward, Bath Performance Centre (Scotland)
