Tom Dean and Duncan Scott among 13 strong UK teams for World SC
Tom dean and Duncan Scott are part of a quartet of Olympic champions leading a 13-person squad from Great Britain for next month’s short course world championships in Abu Dhabi.
The championships, which take place from December 16 to 21 at the Etihad Arena in Yas Bay, represent the first opportunity to race in the British colors since Tokyo 2020, when the GB team amassed a record eight medals.
Two-time Olympic champion Dean, Scott – who became the most decorated British Olympian of all time in a single edition of the Games with four medals – is joined by other gold medalists Freya Anderson and Matt Richards.
Courtesy of Rob Schumacher / USA Today Sports
Dean and Scott recorded Britain’s first Olympic double in over a century when they won gold and silver in the men’s 200 freestyle respectively.
The pair then combined with Richards and James Guy to win gold in the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay.
Anderson swam the anchor stage in the heats of the mixed 4 × 100 medley relay as GB won the world record.
The Olympic finalists will join them Dan Jervis, Abbie Wood, Max Litchfield, Molly Renshaw, Ben proud and Lucie Hope.
Ed Mildred, Katie Shanahan and Cameron Kurle rounding out the group of 13, with Mildred and Shanahan gaining more valuable senior experience at the international level after competing at the Senior and Junior European Championships earlier this year.
This means a busy schedule for swimmers competing in the International Swimming League, with the playoffs scheduled to be contested throughout November.
Wood, who finished fourth in the 200IM, said:
“I’m really excited to be back in the race on a big international stage behind Tokyo with this team.
“I hope it will be a good start to the new season for all of us.”
Abbie Wood, Glasgow 2021 Photo courtesy of British Swimming
UK National Swimming Performance Director Chris spice noted:
“There have been so many incredible performances from our swimmers in 2021, and these World Short Course Championships will be one last opportunity of the year for them to compete against the best in the world.
“The short nature of competition gives athletes unique opportunities to hone certain running techniques and skills as we prepare for what will be a nonstop year in 2022, with the World Championships, the European Championships and the Commonwealth Games.
“It will also be a good thing for this close-knit team to come together again. One of the strengths of our experience in Tokyo has been the closeness of the whole team, helping each other throughout the Games – and meetings like this in Abu Dhabi play their part in building these vital bonds. .
The British swimming team selected to participate in the FINA World Short Course Championships in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (December 16-21, 2021):
Freya Anderson – England, National Bath Center
Tom Dean – England, National Bath Center
Lucy Hope – Scotland, University of Stirling
Daniel Jervis – Wales, University of Swansea
Cameron Kurle – England, University of Stirling
Max Litchfield – England, Loughborough National Center
Edward Mildred – England, Bath National Center
Ben Proud – England, University of Bath
Molly Renshaw – England, Loughborough National Center
Matthew Richards – Wales, Bath National Center
Duncan Scott – Scotland, University of Stirling
Katie Shanahan – Scotland, Glasgow City Swim Team
Abbie Wood – England, Loughborough National Center
