British Swimming name 20-strong squad for Doha World Championships

After a historic European Short Course Championships that saw Great Britain top the medal table, British Swimming have named a strong team of 20 swimmers to take on the world at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha next month.

The event will be the third World Championships in 20 months where the group will focus on securing those vital relay team quota places for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The squad features the likes of Tom Dean, Lauren Cox and Anna Hopkin as nine of the nation’s medallists from the last year’s worlds in Budapest are set to travel to Doha.

They’ll be joined by 2022 50m Freestyle world champion and 2023 world bronze medal winner Ben Proud – who will make his seventh world championship appearance in the Middle East.

Adam Peaty will make his return to the world stage after some strong swims across the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup events in October whilst Abbie Wood and Freya Colbert will look to continue their strong form in recent months with more medal success.

‘A crucial part of our build-up’

Looking ahead to the beginning of a six-month run-up to the Olympic Games, British Swimming Performance Director Chris Spice is focused on how the meet can play its part in the preparations for GB’s bid to make more Olympic history in Paris.

He said: “We are all aware of the unusual challenge that a World Championships in Olympic year could pose – but our swimmers and staff are preparing for Doha as a crucial part of our build-up to Paris and, before that, the British Swimming Championships in April.”

“Locking in relay places across the Olympic programme is a key focus, with our relay teams having been so successful in recent years, showing the versatility and depth of this cohort of athletes.

“On top of that, though, this is a great racing opportunity on the world stage and will be a serious test of our swimmers’ preparations and work over the winter months as they will still be in heavy training throughout the meet.”