The bulk of the squad has now been revealed following last week's selection trials, with the latest batch of entrants joining Adam Peaty, Duncan Scott, James Wilby and Luke Greenbank, who secured places in January
Tuesday 27 April 2021 17:38, UK
Sky Sports Scholars Max Litchfield and Freya Anderson have qualified for this summer’s Olympics in Tokyo after 24 swimmers were added to Team GB’s swimming squad.
The bulk of the swimming squad has now been revealed following last week's selection trials, with the latest batch of entrants joining Adam Peaty, Duncan Scott, James Wilby and Luke Greenbank, who secured their places in January.
Sky Sports Scholar Litchfield said: "It's hard to put into words how happy and proud I am to have been selected for my second Olympics.
"To be heading to Tokyo is a dream come true and I am so excited for what the next few months have in store.
"Making the team is the first step but the real goal is the summer and we are hard at work now fine-tuning my performance from the trials last week and making sure I am in the best possible shape and ready for what the summer hold."
On the announcement, Team GB chef de mission Mark England said: "I'd be pretty confident that we are selecting the strongest swim team that has ever represented Team GB at an Olympic Games. We'll see some special moments in the pool in Tokyo."
Peaty, who won Team GB's first gold medal at Rio 2016 by breaking his own world record in the 100m breaststroke, is the standout representative of the 28-strong squad that has been selected so far.
Ben Proud is among that contingent after posting a trials-winning time which would have won silver at the 2019 World Championships in the 50m freestyle.
Kathleen Dawson, who won the 100m and 200m backstroke in London two weeks ago, and Molly Renshaw, who recently broke the British 200m breaststroke record, are also included.
Also named on the team are Joe Litchfield, 400m individual medley specialist Aimee Willmott and butterfly swimmer Alys Thomas, who will make her Olympic debut at the age of 30.
British Swimming performance director and swimming team leader for Tokyo, Chris Spice, said: "We have over 40 per cent athletes on the team that were not with us at our last World Championships in 2019, which demonstrates the outstanding work coaches and support staff across Britain have done keeping these athletes training to the highest of levels in very challenging circumstances during the last 18 months.
"Of course, our work has only just begun and we now turn our attention to swimming faster in the summer which I know every athlete on this team is capable of.
"If we do this I am sure we can have a very successful Tokyo Games."
Further swimmers may be added to the team in June based on performances at the European Championships and other identified meets, with a primary focus on bolstering the potential for relay medals.
The final qualifying event for the marathon swim will take place from 19-20 June in Setubal, Portugal.
