Day four of the 2025 British Swimming Championships brought a flurry of standout performances, with rising stars and seasoned champions making waves. Oliver Morgan once again reigned supreme in the 50m backstroke, while promising youngster Jack Brown came within a whisker of the 100m butterfly crown, missing out by just seven hundredths of a second. Meanwhile, veteran Duncan Scott claimed yet another national title, this time in the 200m individual medley. Here’s a look back at the highlights from the third of five days of action.
Katie Shanahan Commands the 200m Backstroke.
At just 20 years old, Katie Shanahan has firmly established herself as a leading figure in British backstroke swimming. The 200m backstroke final was stacked with quality, with contenders like Holly McGill and Honey Osrin all poised to shake up the established order. But Shanahan, representing Stirling, executed a measured race strategy, gradually reeling in her rivals over the closing 50 metres after a cagey first three lengths.
Her winning time of 2:07.91, comfortably under the qualifying mark for the World Championships, books her ticket to Singapore. This victory reflects her growing consistency on the international stage, having spent recent years testing herself against the world’s best, particularly the Australians who currently dominate global swimming. “Racing this event at nearly every major international meet has taught me how to handle it properly. I’ve learned how to approach these kinds of races,” she explained after the final. Holly McGill also dipped under the 2:08.60 qualifying threshold, highlighting the strength of the Stirling squad. With the likes of Shanahan and Duncan Scott in its ranks, the university is now a powerhouse of British swimming, unquestionably the best in Scotland, and among the top nationally.
Ed Mildred Breaks Through with Steely Determination.
On the men’s side, Ed Mildred’s long-anticipated senior breakthrough finally arrived. Once touted as a junior prodigy, the 21-year-old had found the transition to senior competition challenging — until now. With a gritty win in the 100m butterfly, clocking 51.80 seconds, Mildred announced his arrival. Though just shy of the individual qualifying time of 51.35, his place in the 4x100m medley relay squad for Singapore is now secure.
More than the time, it was the manner of his performance that impressed. Opening with a sharp 23.98 at the halfway mark, Mildred held off the fast-finishing Jack Brown, just 18, who finished a tantalising seven hundredths behind. Brown’s effort was even faster than the previous junior national record, set by none other than Mildred himself. “This will be my first long-course World Championships. I’ve won a lot at junior level, but stepping up to the seniors has required enormous mental resilience,” said Mildred. His win signals a generational shift in British butterfly sprinting, historically the weakest of the four strokes in terms of world-class talent.
Eva Okaro Dazzles in the 50m Sprints.
Still only 18, Eva Okaro lit up the women’s sprint events. Already victorious in the 50m freestyle, she doubled up with a superb win in the 50m butterfly, stopping the clock at 26.19 seconds, a new personal best. Her progression has been meteoric, just a month ago, she had swum 26.39 in Edinburgh.
Her composure under pressure, versatility across freestyle and butterfly, and consistency in finals have clearly convinced selectors to include her in the team for Singapore. There, she is likely to meet Sara Curtis, an Italian swimmer of the same age and similar profile who recently broke Federica Pellegrini’s national record. Behind Okaro, Laura Stephens (26.62) underlined her all-round talent, while Kate Clifton and Ciara Scholsshan shared bronze in what became a rare four-swimmer podium.
Ollie Morgan’s Backstroke Dominance Continues.
If anyone has owned the backstroke events in London, it’s Ollie Morgan. Having already obliterated the national record in the 100m, Morgan returned to claim victory in the 50m backstroke with a personal best of 24.43 seconds, the second-fastest time ever by a Brit in the event.
Already qualified for the World Championships, Morgan confirmed his status as the undisputed number one in the discipline. But it wasn’t just about him: Jonny Marshall clocked 24.88 to finish second — his first time under the 25-second barrier, while Cameron Brooker grabbed bronze with a lifetime best of 25.02. The event’s recent inclusion in the Olympic programme for LA 2028 adds even greater significance to these performances.
Duncan Scott – Still the Medley Master.
With eight Olympic medals to his name, Duncan Scott could be forgiven for taking it easy. Already pre-qualified for the 200m individual medley thanks to his silver at the 2023 Worlds, he had no obligation to go flat-out in London, but that’s not his style.
The Stirling swimmer not only won the final, but also bettered the qualifying time for Singapore. After a tightly contested butterfly leg, he pulled clear on the backstroke and never looked back. His freestyle split, the fastest in the field, reminded everyone that this is the same man who took Olympic silver in the 200m freestyle in Tokyo. “That was tough. The lads pushed me hard from the start. In medley, it’s all about exploiting your strengths and damage-limiting on your weaknesses,” he said post-race. Behind him, rising star Matthew Ward : a European junior medallist, broke the two-minute barrier for the first time with a lifetime best of 1:59.13, underlining his bright future.
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