Day three of the 2025 British Swimming Championships produced no shortage of highlights, with a blend of rising stars and established names lighting up the pool. From Oliver Morgan smashing his own national record in the 100m backstroke, to teenage prodigy Jacob Mills finishing runner-up in the men’s 100m freestyle behind the seasoned Duncan Scott, the future of British swimming appears to be in excellent hands. Here’s a look back at the standout moments from the third of five days of competition.
Men’s 100m Backstroke – Morgan Rules the Waves with a Record-Breaking Swim
Oliver Morgan promised fireworks, and he delivered in emphatic fashion. The 21-year-old University of Birmingham swimmer stormed to victory in the men’s 100m backstroke, clocking a blistering 52.12 to lower his own British record. It wasn’t just a win; it was a statement. Pulling away on the final underwater phase, Morgan left the rest of the field trailing, finishing over a second ahead of his rivals. The previous British best, 52.95, also his, was set just last year, further underlining his rapid rise.
Behind him, Jonathon Marshall heartbreakingly missed out on the World Championship qualifying time by just 0.01 seconds (52.88 against the required 52.87), while 19-year-old Matthew Ward rounded off the podium. After a subdued outing at the Paris Olympics, Morgan appears rejuvenated : “I didn’t expect that sort of time this season, especially with uni taking a toll. But week by week, it’s all coming back.”
Men’s 100m Freestyle – Richards Leads a Star-Studded Field.
The men’s 100m freestyle final lived up to its billing as one of the marquee events of the meet. In a race that was as tactical as it was explosive, Olympic relay gold medallist Matt Richards held his nerve to take the win in 47.71, claiming back-to-back national titles in the event. Richards’ experience came to the fore over the final 25 metres as he edged out a hungry chasing pack.
The surprise of the night came from 17-year-old Jacob Mills, who surged to second in a staggering 48.03, his personal best and a new British age-group record, securing his maiden senior World Championship call-up. Tom Dean came home third in 48.13, with Jacob Whittle close behind in 48.34. Together, they form a formidable 4x100m relay team heading to Singapore, where Britain could well be among the gold medal favourites. “We’ve got an incredible group, one of the strongest in Europe,” said Richards. “To see guys like Mills already at this level at just 17… it’s inspiring.”
Women’s 50m Freestyle – Eva Okaro Announces Herself.
Eva Okaro delivered a powerful reminder of her world-class potential with a dominant swim in the women’s 50m freestyle. The 19-year-old, already on the radar after her Olympic qualification last year, stopped the clock at 24.48, a lifetime best and more than enough to book her place at the World Championships.
Blisteringly fast off the blocks, Okaro flew through the first 25 metres and held her form beautifully, her underwater work particularly impressive. Once seen as inconsistent despite holding a junior world record, she now looks mentally and technically mature.“I’ve learned to block out the noise and focus on my swim. This time I raced for myself, and that changed everything,” she said post-race.
Women’s 200m Breaststroke : Angharad Evans Stuns the Field.
The evening’s biggest upset came courtesy of Angharad Evans in the women’s 200m breaststroke. Already a breakthrough star following her fifth-place Olympic finish in the 100m breaststroke, Evans delivered a sensational swim to claim her first national title, and a World Championship berth.
Clocking 2:21.86, she obliterated her previous best, a time that would have placed her fourth in the Olympic final last summer. After staying in touch over the first 150 metres, Evans surged past Lily Booker and Imogen Clark in the final 50 to secure victory. A relative unknown before her recent rise, the University of Stirling athlete is fast becoming one to watch : “We’ve worked a lot this year on mindset and technique. I knew if I was patient, I had a shot.”
Women’s 50m Backstroke : Lauren Cox Shows Her Class.
In a fiercely contested women’s 50m backstroke final, Lauren Cox held her nerve to take gold in 27.79. She pipped 16-year-old Blythe Kinsman (27.94) and 2020 European champion Kathleen Dawson (27.99) in a race where fine margins defined the result. Cox’s electric start and underwater strength made the difference, as she seized the lead off the blocks and never relinquished it. The title reaffirms her status as a consistent force in a discipline where details make all the difference. Kinsman, still only 18, secured her first senior national podium, while Dawson, returning from a shoulder injury, remains optimistic: “The time was decent, and I’m starting to feel like myself again. There’s work to be done, but I’m encouraged.”
Men’s 1500m Freestyle : Reece Grady Steps Up.
In an event that often flies under the radar, 20-year-old Reece Grady grabbed the spotlight with a commanding performance in the men’s 1500m freestyle. From the gun, Grady set the pace and never looked back, touching home in 14:57.24, sadly just outside the World Championship standard of 14:53.
Despite narrowly missing out on a ticket to Singapore, it was a breakthrough swim for the youngster, who continues to show promise after a strong junior career. Alexander Sargeant and Luke Hornsey took silver and bronze respectively, with the field spreading out as the race progressed. “Bit frustrated not to dip under 14:53, but we’re moving in the right direction,” said Grady.
Given the recent struggles of British swimmers over long-distance events, his rise, along with Amelie Blocksidge, who won the women’s 1500m yesterday, offers genuine hope for the future.
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