Freya Colbert has written a new chapter in British swimming history. At the Edinburgh International, the 22-year-old became the first British woman to break the 1:55 barrier in the 200-metre freestyle. Clocking 1:54.98, she lowered her own national record and further cemented her status as one of the leading figures in British women’s swimming. In a competition that served as an important tune-up ahead of next month’s British Championships, several rising talents also made their mark, underlining the strength and depth of a new generation emerging in this Olympic cycle.
A new generation making its mark in the Edinburgh pool
The Royal Commonwealth Pool hosted the 2026 edition of the Edinburgh International this weekend, an important fixture in the preparation of British swimmers ahead of the national championships scheduled for next month. While the meet itself is not a qualification event, it traditionally provides a valuable gauge of form for athletes looking to fine-tune their performances just weeks before the trials that will help determine selection for the upcoming Commonwealth Games.
Several prominent figures in British swimming were in attendance, including three-time Olympic champion Adam Peaty. Making his first long-course appearance since the Olympic final in Paris in 2024, the breaststroke specialist lined up in the final of the men’s 100 metres. In a tightly contested race, Peaty finished fourth in 1:00.74. Victory went to the young Filip Nowacki, the reigning World Junior and European Junior champion, who touched in 1:00.26 after a strong second half of the race. Greg Butler (1:00.37) and Max Morgan (1:00.54), the World Junior bronze medallist, completed a podium that highlighted the impressive rise of a new wave of British breaststroke talent.
Elsewhere in the men’s programme, Duncan Scott – the most decorated British Olympic swimmer in history – claimed victory in the 400-metre individual medley in 4:15.94, finishing ahead of Max Litchfield. Olympic sprint specialist Matt Richards also impressed as he took the 50-metre freestyle title in 22.43, edging out Jacob Mills and veteran David Cumberlidge in a particularly competitive final.
In the women’s events, several young swimmers also caught the eye. At just 16 years old, Amelie Blocksidge delivered a commanding performance in the 800-metre freestyle, winning in 8:35.51 and reinforcing the promise she has already shown at junior level. Another teenager, Amalie Smith, dominated the 400-metre individual medley in 4:40.13, finishing almost ten seconds clear of the rest of the field.
In the sprint races, Edinburgh swimmer Anna Morgan secured victory in the 50-metre breaststroke in 30.78, setting a new personal best in the process. Ciara Schlosshan claimed the 100-metre butterfly in 58.39 ahead of Lucy Grieve and Keanna MacInnes. In the backstroke events, Oliver Morgan stood out in the men’s 50 metres, winning in 24.73 – a time that places him among the fastest performers in the world this season.
Freya Colbert sets a new benchmark in the 200m freestyle
At major swimming meets, there is often one defining performance, and this time it belonged to Freya Colbert. Already the holder of the British record in the 200m freestyle since the 2025 World Championships in Singapore, the British swimmer went one step further by lowering her own mark to a new national standard of 1:54.98.
The race was expertly controlled by the Loughborough Performance Centre swimmer. Starting slightly more conservatively than in her previous record swim, Colbert gradually increased the tempo during the second half of the race, keeping enough in reserve to maintain a strong pace over the final 100 metres. That well-judged race strategy allowed her to shave crucial hundredths off her previous best and become the first British woman ever to dip below the symbolic 1:55 barrier.
Behind her, Olympic medallist Abbie Wood finished second in 1:57.23, while Leah Schlosshan completed the podium in 1:58.28. However, the spotlight was firmly on Colbert, whose steady progression over the past few seasons continues to confirm her position as one of the leaders of British swimming.
The Grantham-born swimmer, who won the world title in the 400-metre individual medley in 2024 and has become a regular member of Britain’s relay teams, continues to expand her range. Her latest performance establishes her as a national benchmark in the 200-metre freestyle as well. The time also places her among the fastest swimmers in the world this season and moves her closer to the level required to contend for major international medals – although swimmers such as Molly O’Callaghan and Summer McIntosh still set the global standard in the event.
After the race, Colbert admitted she was particularly pleased to have reached the target she had set for the upcoming British Championships.
“My goal at Trials was to go 1:54 and I’ve just done it, so I’m really happy with that,” she explained. “I like the idea of bringing something similar to what the boys’ 200 freestyle has in Britain. It’s an event people often sit and watch with a lot of anticipation, and I’d love to help raise the standard and create a bit more excitement around those finals.”
The performance is all the more encouraging given that the British swimmer had only recently returned from an altitude training camp and was unsure of her form heading into the meet in Edinburgh. Breaking her national record under those circumstances suggests there may still be further improvements to come as she builds towards the British Championships, which will serve as the selection meet for this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
If Colbert can continue to chip away at her time and push deeper into the 1:54 range, she could soon find herself firmly in the mix on the global stage. For British swimming, her breakthrough performance in Edinburgh not only signals the rise of a genuine medal contender, but also highlights the growing momentum of a new generation determined to make its mark in the years ahead.
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