RussB

The competition for places within the women's team is going to be something fierce! If GTB is back to her best it'll be a dogfight between Sophie and Kate for the third spot. Then there will be further competition to be included as the two women for the team relay at the games itself. Wish we had some of that competition in the men's side...beyond Alex it seems a bit thin on the ground.

Luckily discretion is so high up in their selection criteria

Yes. I think this should be universally agreed. We take 2 breastrokers for the 100m on both men and women side. peaty and wilby evans and hanlon

I tend to think they will take into account Evan's morning time as she has now swum this time twice. Pressure on Anna to make the decision easier though!

In my book I think Evans and Hanlon both get selected (assuming the medley relay is given the green light)

I also hope she drops the 200m, but perhaps she keeps the 400 IM as it's not inconceivable to see big drops to sub 4m 40 clockings in a few years time. She may also keep doing open water competitions where she dominated European juniors last year.

My bad - I thought he had made the A final. I thought he needed to be genuine relay cover in both the 4x1 and 4x2 to be selected. So, looking far less likely if the times from the heats hold. I was routing for him, without Burras I thought the 4x1 could really do with another 100m specialist, as opposed to 200m specialists dropping down.

I think Jacob would be incredibly unfortunate if the selectors take Bird and not him if he beats Bird tonight. I don’t see why we would take Bird and Whittle in that scenario, would seem a bit excessive!

I'm not sure I see a route for Bird or Turley if the top 4 goes Richards Scott Guy Dean as we will have both Litchfield's in Paris anyway as cover....that's 6 guys even assuming you don't take Whittle (which I think he may go for cover for the 4x1). Really hoping Amelie does something amazing in the 800m free tonight, and of course Evans to break the BR. For the women's 100 free Hopkins is very far clear but got my fingers crossed Okaro goes a PB by a nice chunk to make the relay team (assuming they can make the time). I felt quite positive about Anderson's 100m this morning, hopefully she can go mid 54.

Abbie Wood is back to form. Fantastic in an absolutely stacked event globally.

As I mentioned after the 100m, he is in significant danger of missing out.

Peters will be on the train. There is enough wiggle room to get him in, but it is rather interesting that Joe has made it in. More cover for 200m relay and now Jimmy is really at risk. He needs to deliver in the 200m.

I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a swimmer doing a 1500m free and 400IM double in the same session. His schedule for this week looks ridiculous !

Interesting question about whether the same happens in the 100m, i.e. she gets 2nd to Anna and narrowly misses the time

A little outside bet I think has a fair chance is Honey to beat Katie in the 200m back and qualify directly.

I hesitate to answer in fear of self-doubting achieving those two criteria for what it's worth Eva has been one I've been hoping could make the team after her ridiculous 50m relay split in Canada in short course in Dec 2023. The drops in time were anticipated for the 100m rather than the 50m in terms of getting close to OQT and more importantly in consideration for the relays. With the assumption that the team can make the time, you'd have to imagine Eva will be part of the top 4. Would the selectors be pushing her to Europeans so she could swim an additional event? My gut would be no. Let her focus on the 100m would be what I suspect the message would be. She is still over 2 tenths off the time which in a 50 is no mean feat to drop that chunk once again in a few months.

Proud’s days of doing 100 relays are long gone for sure 🤣

Burras to me looks like being the biggest name to miss out unless he delivers something mightily impressive in the 50. i had assumed he would at least be part of the relay squad.

all comes down to a balancing act. Assuming Jimmy and Peters swims the 100 fly then you have to weigh up if they are sharing the work load for the medley relays..and then consider if Whittle going is value for a spot. its clear this team may challenge for the Olympic title and given the workloads of Duncan, Tom and Matt I think you take Jacob to swim the heat

Burras 🤣

Re. Colbert given her age and the direction of travel I think it’s reasonable to expect her to drop further time towards 4m 30 in Paris and again, fully expect her to be in the mix, that’s not to say she’s a favourite to beat Grimes et al but definitely a contender .

Colbert just looks like such a strong swimmer across all strokes. Down to a 4m 34 flat and a real contender to everyone except Summer in Paris

He barely made the B final. Think we may have a shock qualifier for the relay… let’s see tonight 👀

As an alternative, I’d argue there is more cause to give the spot to Honey if she makes it outright in the 200m by getting the time and a top 2. she beat Medi here in the 100 with a PB…

Wow - well done Ollie and Jonny! British record and Marshall came home quick which bodes so well for his 200m