Seven Scottish swimmers, five of whom won medals at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi last year, have been selected to represent Great Britain at the World Championships in Shanghai, China 16-31 July 2011.
Their selection follows some outstanding performances at the British National Championships in Sheffield last week, which was the last chance to secure a seat on the plane to Shanghai. Amongst the highlights saw a Scottish 1, 2, 3 in both the men’s 200m and 400m freestyle finals.
Robbie Renwick, Scotland’s first gold medallist of the Delhi Games, was distraught when he failed to qualify for the World Championships at the first round of trials in Manchester in March. But there was double delight for the Commonwealth Games champion when he collected gold in both the 400m and 200m freestyle (1:47.46). As in the 400m, all three podium places went to Scots. David Carry (1:49.48) was second again and Jak Scott, who trains at the ITC Centre in Stirling, finished third in 1:49.58. Jak will make his GB senior debut when all three Scots team up in the 4 x 200m relay team in Shanghai.
It was also double gold for Kris Gilchrist in the 100m and 200m breaststroke and he will join fellow Scot, Michael Jamieson who had booked his slot in the breaststroke events back in March. Kris who changed club and moved to the ITC in Bath after his disappointment in Delhi, posted 1:00.99 in the 100m, his fastest time for two and a half years and in the 200m he kept up his good form to swim the fifth fastest time in the world this year 2:10.18.
Commonwealth Games gold medallist Hannah Miley, who had also qualified for the World Championships in her favoured two medley events back in March, claimed bronze in the 200m breaststroke and finished fourth in the 200m freestyle in a sub two minute time. She finished the week off with a bronze in the 800m freestyle showing the depth and diversity of her talent.
In the 100m freestyle, Caitlin McClatchey collected the bronze medal and the added bonus of securing a World Championship berth in the 4 x 100m freestyle relay. She went on to take silver in the 200m freestyle eventually succumbing to an in-form Joanne Jackson.
Commonwealth Games relay medallist Lewis Smith also had a great week, coming third in the 400m freestyle and then winning the 400m individual medley and taking silver in the 200IM, but sadly just missed out on the qualifying times for the Worlds.
World Championship selected athletes are:
Robbie Renwick
David Carry
Jak Scott
Michael Jamieson
Kris Gilchrist
Hannah Miley
Caitlin McClatchey
The Scots are also making waves on the junior international scene.
Commonwealth Games 3m springboard diving finalist Grace Reid has been selected for the European Junior Diving Championships in Belgrade 29 June – 3 July, whilst 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games hopefuls Craig Benson and Emily Jones have been selected for the World Junior Championships in Lima, Peru.
Good luck to all our international representatives this summer in the pool!