The London Aquatics Centre is playing host to a high-calibre competition from 15 to 20 April 2025, as the British Swimming Championships kick off. Serving as the sole selection meet for this summer’s World Championships in Singapore, day one saw a number of favourites deliver, while a host of young and talented swimmers, such as Jasmine Carter, Max Morgan and Filip Nowacki, turned heads with standout performances.
James Guy – the veteran returns to 400m freestyle
Long regarded as a 400m freestyle specialist, James Guy had stepped away from the distance in recent years to focus on relays and butterfly, where he has enjoyed remarkable success, claiming multiple Olympic and World titles. But in London, the 2015 world champion marked a strong return to the event. He led the heats in 3:50.28 ahead of Jack McMillan (3:51.19) and Kieran Bird (3:51.50), before going on to win the final in 3:50.84. His victory was never in doubt, finishing clear of 19-year-old Tyler Melbourne-Smith, who dipped just under the 3:50 barrier. Though short of the World Championships qualifying standard (3:45.73), Guy remains the only finalist to have previously achieved that time, a detail selectors may weigh heavily when finalising the squad for Singapore.
Ethan Kelly shines in junior 400m free
In the junior version of the event, 17-year-old Ethan Kelly made a big statement. The City of Liverpool swimmer smashed his personal best in the heats (3:59.42), then dropped it even further to 3:57.54 in the final, a hugely promising performance. He was followed on the podium by 18-year-olds Samuel Sterry and Kourosh Khodakhan, underlining what could be the future core of British distance freestyle.
Seasoned trio take charge in women’s 200m butterfly
All eyes were on three of Britain’s most familiar names in the women’s 200m butterfly final, and none disappointed. Keanna MacInnes, Emily Large (Richards) and Laura Stephens, all having qualified under the 2:11 mark, produced a gripping race. Stirling University’s MacInnes claimed the win in 2:07.14, a full second clear of Large (2:08.25), with Stephens further back in 2:09.70. While all times fell short of the world standard (2:06.65), the depth of the race reaffirmed the strength of British women’s butterfly. Of note was 15-year-old Edith Price (born 2009), who impressed with a strong seventh-place finish in 2:13.01.
Kara Hanlon reasserts herself in senior 50m breaststroke
The women’s 50m breaststroke final was dominated by Edinburgh University duo Kara Hanlon and Anna Morgan. Hanlon took the win in 30.80, ahead of Morgan (31.11), underlining the strength of their programme. But the surprise of the evening came from lane 8, where Basildon’s Jasmine Carter, just 15 years old (born in 2009), stormed to bronze in 31.40, edging out Theodora Taylor by 0.13s. With Angharad Evans absent from the line-up, Hanlon seized the opportunity to maintain her position as the country’s top performer in the event this season.
Butler breaks the minute mark in tightly packed men’s 100m breaststroke
With legends Adam Peaty and James Wilby missing, the men’s 100m breaststroke was wide open, and highly competitive. In the end, it was Loughborough’s Gregory Butler who took the crown, clocking 59.93 to become the only swimmer of the final to dip under the iconic one-minute barrier. He was pushed all the way by 17-year-old Max Morgan (Reed’s SC), who produced a stellar swim in 1:00.10, and Jersey’s Filip Nowacki (Millfield), 18, who touched in 1:00.28 for third. Edinburgh’s Archie Goodburn had led at halfway (27.83) but faded slightly to finish fourth in 1:00.63.
Colbert dominates in women’s 200m freestyle
Bringing the curtain down on the evening’s action, Freya Colbert delivered a commanding performance in the 200m freestyle, winning in 1:55.76, a time that would have secured her a place in the Olympic final last summer in Paris. The Loughborough swimmer led from start to finish, turning in 56.59 at halfway before pulling away further in the back half. Leah Schlosshan, 19, claimed a strong silver in 1:57.80, while Abbie Wood, also of Loughborough and more commonly seen in the 200m IM, grabbed third in 1:57.98. Wood went out quickly but faded slightly on the final 50m, unable to match Colbert’s consistent pace.
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