Swim England CEO Jane Nickerson has congratulated Team GB’s aquatic athletes and hopes the success will spark inspiration in the next generation. The rearranged Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will go down in the history books, and not only because of the year-long postponement. It was the most successful Olympic swimming campaign ever for Team GB, producing eight swimming medals, three diving medals and many outstanding performances.
Kick started by Adam Peaty becoming the first British swimmer to successfully defend an Olympic title, the GB quartet set a new world record in a sensational Mixed 4 x 100m Medley Relay while Tom Dean became a double Olympic Champion in the 200m Freestyle and Men’s 4 x 200m Freestyle events.
Duncan Scott also made GB history after winning four medals at a single Olympic Games with gold and silver in the Mens’ 4 x 200m Freestyle and Men’s 4 x 100m Medley events, and individual silvers in the 200m Freestyle and 200m Individual Medley events.
In the diving, we saw how much it meant to Tom Daley after winning his first ever Olympic gold medal alongside Matty Lee, to which he then added a bronze in his individual event. Jack Laugher also recovered from a tough year to battle his way to a well-deserved bronze.
Olympic debutants Alice Dearing and Hector Pardoe in the marathon swimming and the artistic swimming duet of Kate Shortman and Isabelle Thorpe did the nation proud with their performances, setting them on their path towards Paris, while the efforts of 16-year-old’s Jacob Whittle and Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix, fresh off the Swim England talent pathways, showed that all dreams are possible.
Jane Nickerson commented ” It’s not just about the medals though. Every single British athlete, coach, volunteer and member of the support staff are now role models for the next generation. This includes all of those involved from Learn to Swim, club level and beyond. Our athletes had to start somewhere. We also appreciate the role families and parents have played in the success of this great team. The support network, including the parental taxi service at all hours of the morning, cannot be underestimated. From everyone at Swim England, we would like to say a huge congratulations. You were all part of this Olympic success. We hope that is this success will inspire more and more to get involved with our wonderful disciplines.”
The start of the Paralympic Games is just a few weeks away – here’s hoping it will be as exciting and successful.