By Sophie Kaufman on SwimSwam
2025 AQUATICS GB SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Tuesday, April 15th – Sunday, April 20th
- Prelims at 9:30am local (4:30am ET)/Finals at 7pm local (2pm ET)
- London Aquatics Centre
- LCM (50m)
- Meet Central
- Aquatics GB World Championships Selection Criteria
- SwimSwam Preview
- Draft Entries
- Live Results
- Livestream
- Live Recaps
It’s day four of the 2025 Aquatics GB Championships, which means we’re almost halfway through the competition. Tonight, we’ll see more swimmers vie for a spot on an international roster this summer–while there are plenty of international meets this summer, this is British swimmers’ lone chance to qualify for the 2025 World Aquatics Championships.
This session features finals of the men’s 50 backstroke,
Ollie Morgan returns to the pool for the men’s 50 backstroke. He had arguably the swim of the championships last night, obliterating his 100 backstroke British record with a 52.12 that tied him for 13th all-time. The 24-year-old was just three-hundredths off his lifetime best this morning, clocking 24.76 to lead the field into the final. It would take a significant drop for him to rattle this national record, but Morgan is clearly on form this week.
Similarly, Eva Okaro carried her momentum from a win last night into her race today. After winning the 50 freestyle yesterday in a new lifetime best that qualified her for Worlds, Okaro is the top seed in the 50 butterfly, swimming 26.57. She’s followed by Laura Stephens (26.70) and Ciara Scholsshan (26.90), who were both under the 27-second barrier.
Ed Mildred and Jacob Peters will go head-to-head in the men’s 100 butterfly British Open final. Mildred finished second in the 200 butterfly earlier this week and fired off a 51.75 lifetime best in this morning’s 100 butterfly prelims. That puts him in control of tonight’s final, but Peters will try to strike back in the final. He qualified with a 51.86 and owns a lifetime best of 51.16 that makes him the second-fastest British swimmer in history.
While Mildred and Peters will both need to have strong swims to hit a tough qualification standard of 51.35. However, the men’s 200 IM qualification time (1:57.18) looks well within reach for Duncan Scott. The two-time Olympic silver medalist in this event, Scott cruised to the fastest time of the morning in 1:59.99. He set a British record in his first event of this meet, the 200 butterfly, though was adamant after the race he will not contest the event at Worlds.
Finally, there are several women aiming for qualification in the women’s 200 backstroke. Katie Shanahan is one of only a handful of British women who have been under the qualification time. That gives her an edge on the rest of the field, including Holly McGill and Niamh Ward, who will swim out of lanes four and five after qualifying first and second this morning. But the real spoiler for Shanahan could be Freya Colbert, who has looked excellent at these championships so far, rattling the 200 freestyle British record with a 1:55.76 lifetime best.
Men’s 50-Meter Backstroke
Junior Final
- British Record: 24.04 — Liam Tancock, Great Britain (2009)
- British Junior Record: 25.10 — Nicholas Pyle (2018)
Top 3:
- Zachariah Dale, Repton — 26.01
- Zeno Ubertalli, Chelsea West — 26.43
- Oliver Davis-Tootil, Sheffield — 26.55
Zachariah Dale dominated the junior final of the 50 backstroke to begin this session. He charged ahead to the win, hitting a lifetime best of 26.01 to hit the wall first. He won by .42 seconds ahead of Chelsea West’s Zeno Ubertalli.
British Open Final
- World Record: 23.55 — Kliment Kolesnikov, Russia (2023)
- European Record: 23.55 — Kliment Kolesnikov, Russia (2023)
- British Record: 24.04 — Liam Tancock (2009)
- 2025 Aquatics GB Worlds Consideration Time: —
Top 3:
- Ollie Morgan, Birmingham — 24.43
- Jonny Marshall, Carnegie — 24.88
- Cameron Brooker, Bath PC — 25.02
Ollie Morgan has completed the sweep of the backstroke sprints in London. After demolishing his 100 backstroke British record yesterday to qualify for Singapore, Morgan hit a lifetime best 24.43 to win the 50 backstroke tonight.
He was only a few hundredths from his previous best (24.76) in prelims, signaling that he was once again on form for this evening. He improves his standing as the second-fastest British man in the event with the swim.
Jonny Marshall picked up his second silver medal of the week after collecting one in the 100 backstroke last night. This 24.88 swim marked a lifetime best for Marshall, who just completed his sophomore season at the University of Florida. It’s his first sub-25 second effort. Cameron Brooker‘s 25.02 was a personal best for him as well, meaning the top three swimmers all walked away with a new best. Brooker had a strong start and though Morgan and Marshall passed him, was able to hold on for the final medal.
Women’s 50-Meter Butterfly
Junior Final
- British Record: 25.20 — Francesca Halsall (2014)
- British Junior Record: 26.31 — Francesca Halsall (2008)
Top 3:
- Skye Carter, Basildon — 27.27
- Theodora Taylor, Torfaen — 27.28
- Katherine Renfrew, Perth City — 27.35
Skye Carter charged into the lead of the women’s 50 butterfly through the opening meters. The field struck back at her down the stretch and it came down to the touch between her and the rangy Theodora Taylor. Carter got the better of Taylor by a hundredth, earning the win in 27.27 to Taylor’s 27.28.
Up in lane one, Perth City’s Katherine Renfrew earned third in the junior final just seven-hundredths behind Taylor. For the second final in a row, the top three swimmers all swam lifetime bests.
Multi-Class Para Final
- S7 British Record: 35.07 — Susannah Rodgers (2016)
Top 3:
- Iona Winnifrith, Tonbridge (S7) — 39.25 (592 points)
We’ve seen several para swimmers take to the pool by themselves for a final at these championships, as many of the country’s best are prioritizing the Aquatics GB Summer Championships as their qualification opportunity for the 2025 Para World Swimming Championships.
This time, it was teenager Iona Winnifrith who had the pool to herself for the multi-class para final of the women’s 50 butterfly. She improved from her prelims time, clocking a 39.25 to earn 592 para points and the win.
British Open Final
- World Record: 24.43 — Sarah Sjöström, Sweden (2014)
- European Record: 24.43 — Sarah Sjöström, Sweden (2014)
- British Record: 25.20 — Francesca Halsall (2014)
- 2025 Aquatics GB Worlds Consideration Time: —
Top 3:
- Eva Okaro, Repton — 26.19
- Laura Stephens, Loughborough — 26.62
- Kate Clifton, Sheffield/Ciara Schlosshan, Edinburgh — 26.68
Eva Okaro earned her second gold medal in as many days tonight. Last night, she won the 50 freestyle and qualified for 2025 Worlds, now she’s won the 50 butterfly in 26.19, another lifetime best. The 18-year-old swam her previous lifetime best earlier this spring, clocking a 26.39 at the Edinburgh International Swim in March.
Behind her, Laura Stephens, an Olympic finalist in the 200 butterfly, earned silver with a 26.62. She was six-hundredths ahead of a tie for bronze between Kate Clifton and Ciara Scholsshan.
Men’s 100-Meter Butterfly
Junior Final
- British Record: 50.67 — James Guy (2017)
British Junior Record: 52.26 — Ed Mildred (2021)
Top 3:
- Dean Fearn, Aberdeen — 53.47
- Charles Simpson, Repton — 54.50
- Matthew Hamilton, Plymouth — 54.69
Dean Fearn was all over the junior final of the 100 butterfly. He led from start-to-finish, making the turn in 24.72. He continued to extend his lead over the second 50 meters, stopping the clock in a lifetime best 53.47 to win by over a second.
Behind him, Charles Simpson hit the wall second in 54.50, beating Matthew Hamilton by .19 seconds.
Multi-Class Para Final
- S10 British Record: 57.48 — James Hollis (2017)
- S14 British Record: 54.46 — Reece Dunn (2019)
Top 3:
- William Ellard, Norwich (S14) — 55.89 (910 points)
- Mark Tompsett, Bolton Metro (S14) — 58.79 (782 points)
- Jude Gunner, Norwich (S14) — 1:00.33 (724 points)
William Ellard came into this final as a huge favorite. Not only is he the reigning 100 butterfly S14 Paralympic silver medalist, but yesterday he tied his 100 freestyle S14 world record (51.07).
He was out fast in this final, turning under British record pace in 25.40. The record line just got away from him in the closing meters of the race, but he’d left the rest of the field behind. Ellard picked up the gold medal with a 55.89, which earned 910 para points (1000 is a world record).
Mark Tompsett continued his strong week by earning silver with 782 points and a lifetime best 58.79. Yesterday, Tompsett set a European record in the 100 backstroke S14, winning ahead of Ellard.
Jude Gunnar gave Norwich a 1-3 finish, swimming a 1:00.33 to pick up 724 points.
British Open Final
- World Record: 49.45 — Caeleb Dressel, United States (2021)
- European Record: 49.68 — Kristóf Milák, Hungary (2021)
- British Record: 50.67 — James Guy (2017)
- 2025 Aquatics GB Worlds Consideration Time: 51.35
Top 3:
- Ed Mildred, Manchester — 51.80
- Jack Brown, Plymouth — 51.87
- Jacob Peters, Bath PC — 51.91
Top qualifier Ed Mildred held the lead in the men’s 100 butterfly British Open final by less than a tenth at the turn. He turned in 23.98, just five-hundredths ahead of Josh Gammon. The rest of the field caught Gammon on the second 50, but Mildred was able to maintain his position at the head of the pack.
At the touch, Mildred took the win in 51.80, just seven-hundredths ahead of teenager Jack Brown. The time is just off the 51.75 Mildred swam this morning and outside the 51.35 Worlds consideration time but it doesn’t matter–Mildred is well under the 53.1 the men needed for the 4×100 medley relay to hit the Worlds qualification standard which means both Mildred and Gregory Butler, the 100 breaststroke winner, should be named to the Worlds team later this week.
Brown, 18, edged out Olympian Jacob Peters for the silver medal, clocking 51.87 that’s faster than Mildred’s overall British Junior record from 2021. The swim launches Brown up the British all-time rankings in this event from 19th to 8th.
The 24-year-old Peters logged 51.91 for bronze.
Women’s 400-Meter Freestyle
Junior Final
- British Record: 4:00.60 — Joanne Jackson (2009)
- British Junior Record: 4:05.01 — Holly Hibbott (2018)
Top 3:
- Sophie Benn, Mt. Kelly — 4:17.29
- Kerry Hennie, Liverpool — 4:19.70
- Matilda Potter, Leeds — 4:19.91
Sophie Benn had a strong back half during the junior final of the 400 freestyle, which she used to pull herself ahead of Phoebe Arbuckle and into the lead. She kicked ahead and took the win by well over two seconds as she demolished her lifetime best with a 4:17.29. The swim also would’ve qualified her for the British Open final had she done it during prelims.
There was a close battle for second in this race. In the end, Kerry Hennie got the job done in 4:19.70, .21 seconds ahead of Matilda Potter.
Multi-Class Para Final
- S8 British Record: 4:45.67 — Heather Frederiksen (2009)
- S9 British Record: 4:39.29 — Tully Kearney (2015)
S10 British Record: 4:34.91 — Zara Mullooly (2019)- S11 British Record: 5:22.88 — Scarlett Humphrey (2024)
- S12 British Record: 4:37.14 — Hannah Russell (2015)
Top 3:
- Faye Rodgers, Aberdeen (S10) — 4:34.24 (892 points) *S10 British Record*
- Brock Whiston, London (S8) — 5:01.77 (828 points)
- Brooklyn Hale, Cockermouth (S9) — 5:04.35 (751 points)
Faye Rodgers continues to excel this week. After breaking the 200 butterfly world record in her classification earlier in the week, she just took down the British record in the women’s 400 freestyle S10. Rodgers clocked a 4:34.21, powering into the wall to undercut Zara Mullooly‘s record from 2019 by .67 seconds.
Rodgers is the reigning Paralympic champion in the women’s 100 butterfly S10, but she’s also had international success in the 400 freestyle. She won bronze in the S10 classification at the 2023 Para World Swimming Championships in Manchester.
Brock Whiston, her Paralympic teammate in Paris, took silver with a 5:01.77, scoring 828 points. Brooklyn Hale earned bronze with 751 points. Her final time of 5:04.25 was a lifetime best by over six seconds.
British Open Final
- World Record: 3:55.38 — Ariarne Titmus, Australia (2023)
- European Record: 3:59.15 — Federica Pellegrini, Italy (2009)
- British Record: 4:00.60 — Joanne Jackson (2009)
- 2025 Aquatics GB Worlds Consideration Time: 4:04.98
Top 3:
- Megan Barnes, Mt. Kelly — 4:12.66
- Amelie Blocksidge, Salford — 4:12.78