By Retta Race on SwimSwam
2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES
When: Pool swimming: Saturday, July 24 – Sunday, August 1, 2021
- Open Water swimming: Wednesday, August 4 – Thursday, August 5, 2021
- Where: Olympic Aquatics Centre / Tokyo, Japan
- Heats: 7 PM / Semifinals & Finals: 10:30 AM (Local time)
- Full aquatics schedule
As the initial swimming entries have been published on the official Tokyo 2020 website here, we’re delving into any surprises or notable changes in what was expected among the athletes headed to the Olympic Games just 9 days away.
Although the nation of Great Britain’s lineup indeed has some changes from the ‘on paper’ outcome from its Olympic Trials, none of the athletes’ schedule alterations are what one would call a ‘surprise’.
For instance, 2016 Olympic finalist Duncan Scott has opted out of the men’s 100m freestyle individual event, despite placing 1st at Trials with a super quick 47.87. However, the race conflicts with both the 200m IM and the men’s 4x200m free relay, both of which Scott represents a mega medal contender. As such, his dropping the 100m free was expected and noted in our event preview.
In his stead, young 16-year-old Jacob Whittle has been given the nod to race the 100m free individually. The Derventio Excel athlete placed 4th in the event at the British Trials, posting a mark of 48.76. He’ll join Matt Richards who also qualified, while 3rd place finisher Tom Dean has the same 4x200m free relay conflict as Scott did.
That means the men’s 100m free will see at least two 16-year-old athletes, given that Romanian sensation David Popovici will also be in the field just days from now.
Also not a shocker is the fact that James Guy has dropped the 200m fly event from his Olympic repertoire. The 25-year-old Bath athlete topped the podium at British Olympic Trials with a time of 1:55.20, although his dropping the race merely follows the man’s pattern of doing so at both the 2018 Commonwealth Games and that year’s European Championships.
Finally, Brodie Williams has been added to the 200m backstroke while Kieran Bird now has the 800m free on his agenda in addition to the 400m free.
We’re also not seeing Joe Litchfield‘s name in the 100m backstroke, which is somewhat of a surprise. He clinched the qualification time at the European Championships and was expected to swim it in Tokyo. We’ve reached out to find out more about this decision, but it may have something to do with relay conflicts.
On the women’s side, the 200m backstroke will see one less British competitor, as Kathleen Dawson has chosen to focus solely on the 100m backstroke event. That leaves teammate Cassie Wild to carry the GBR torch against the likes of Aussie Kaylee McKeown and Italy’s Margherita Panziera. Wild will also be contesting the 100m back.
Additionally, Molly Renshaw has dropped the 100m breast to focus solely on her better 200m distance. Sarah Vasey will represent the sole swimmer in the vent for GBR now.
Read the full story on SwimSwam: Brush Up On British Olympic Entry Changes