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The fact Freya Colbert has already stated she doesn't intend to swim the 200 free in Paris only makes it more likely that Freya will get her seat, and Abbie, who is already in as a 4 x 2 free relay leg will come with her. Meanwhile Colbert is on the plane as a relay swimmer, thus may get to swim 400 I'm whether or not she makes the time. Of those who have missed the time, Bird is at the greatest risk - I'd be stunned if Wilby is not included at a minimum as a relay only swimmer just to take heat off Adam - his sub minute 100 is already within Olympic measure, and he could well get the 200 time. For my money, the 4 relays girls, Adam, James, Keanna, Laura are already all but on the plane, with Freya A almost certain if she regains full fitness. The notable thing so far is the number of 2nd place finishers getting the British Q time. That's a step up, I think on recent times outside the men's free 200.

If Freya is genuinely fit in time, she's going, no questions - she's too useful as a relay swimmer (where she tends to excel) - and cannot be completely rules out as an individual medal shout, albeit an outside one. If that means ticking upward slightly from 30 so be it. So far the Champs have been absolutely on fire, suggesting the 30 limit will be tight. Trust me when I say that limit will magically vaomoosh if genuinely competitive swimmers exceed it - it was only ever there to allow GB to turn down individuals with no relay worth, and no real risk of top 8, who clawed in to the Olympic Q time. If, as looks possible at the moment, we might be on the crest of something special, that limit will prove a moveable feast.

Yep. Treat a troll as a troll, and ignore their attempts to engage.

Technically, yes, but given Anderson's Swiss Army knife relay quality, it's not a hard decision - the only issue is will she be race fit.

2 seconds beneath the relay Q time combined, they're in. Anderson, if regains fitness and form, will slot in as Colbert won't race the 200 Free in Paris, so won't take up an excess quota.

Outside the superstars in the medal hunt, a sub 1.00 Breaststroke is absolutely motoring, several relay teams in the medleys won't match that.

Have to; if Peaty's progress from 59.1 to 57.9 continues toward PAris, both the medley's become fair game - and that would require giving Adam a bit of rest.

I'm not 'disappointed' in that, in context. 58.53 in the heat may not be Peaty at his absolute best- that may not return - but it's pretty blooming swift - Gold in this years worlds, and more importantly, silver in last years.

1:27.05 being better than the world record, but because its a mixed international team, will not be credited as such. Alfred, Adeleke and Dina all clearly on scorching early season form...

Must be good points for the lads, now with that Hors cat. Probably relatively safe now with 2, and Kye increasingly looks a real threat come Paris Unfortunately the push for two on the women's side looks goosed at this point, but if Schriever is fit and on form, should be good to o for at least the podium

She's clearly the successor, along with Sophie to the Potter-Taylor Brown generation, much as they were to the Stanford-Holland - and they in turn Cave and Tucker/Jenkins. The women's pipeline continues to deliver, and Sian, Olivia, Jess Fullager means there is good depth, as Learmonth provided. On the boys side, the sound of drifting tumbleweed...

Excellent signs for GTB who had a really, rally tough year just when she should have been taking the 'final step' last year. Her strength on the bike is tactically very useful against the likes of Duffy, where Beth Potter, Kate Waugh etc can be slightly weaker, while their running strength means Beaugarde etc can't just wait them out. Given the strength of Sophie Coldwell over supersprint relay distances, it's going to be a brutal 2 from three to join Beth. And that's not allowing for the Sian's and Fullagers making a late charge, or Learmonth showing old swimming form... The Boys would give their right leg for that sort of depth...

Yep, Istanbul was announced as the likely host a month or so ago, and it was confirmed last week - I think their 2026 ambition is 'unlikely' but it would very likely have a good shot thereafter. Clever of the EOC to lean into Istanbul's Olympic ambitions, but they need to pull it off now - Poland did an exceptionally good job in very difficult circumstances, but a 'bad' Games can really derail Olympic ambitions - see Delhi CWG 2010.

Keeps all options open...and shows how close it probably is in selection terms...

I see Charlie Young made it to the third round, albeit with a bye

Interesting is putting i mildly - it's dynamite.

Great summary Rafa. I think GBR might do OK here; I'm actually quite hopeful in BMX freestyle and women's Park skateboard - even 3 is not beyond the bounds of possibility in the latter, as I think Strachen is better than her ranking. Think GBR COULD pick up a handful of '1 quotas' too in men's park, men's breaking and women's Boulder and Lead. When you add this event to the Boxing, it seems the IOC are increasingly stretching their remit out from the Games simpliciter and into the qualifications - and for the IOC that makes good sense, gives them much more narrative control - and it's a win win for these slightly fringe urban sports. Istanbul 2027 is also making noises about giving the EOC (essentially Europe's end of IOC) much more input in qualification for LA 2028, which will both give IOC more of this power, and raise the importance of Continental Games, which IMHO IOC should make a priority from its own standpoint.

Have we seen much of Houldan this term?

I don't see it lasting to be honest...but, for what its worth, I can see the 'West' turning more and more to Middle East allies to keep their own properties afloat.

Interesting. A strong city ready for such an event. Till now, the European Championships ECM event seemed to be more warmly embraced - it was certainly cheaper! - yet here's Istanbul and EOC, in place,with a full three and a half years to prepare, while the Championships are already denuded of athletics or aquatics (those 2026 events having already been handed out) and absolutely no sign of a host or a plan for the 2026 event... With the Commonwealths also looking doomed and the Francaphone on a shoogily peg, seems the 'West' just can't keep an event going...

UKA had historically a rather sweet broadcast deal with BBC financially. BS are probably happy just to have exposure for their sponsors. UKA probably need to read the room in that regard.

Confirmation from Freya Anderson. She's been struggling with Glandular Fever, not that likely to swim trials. Dreadful timing, and probably kaboshes Paris. Real blow to all the women's relays too, though Hopkin could cover the two medleys...

Absolutely. Although from a Gaelic Games and Soccer background, got into Rugby Union and NFL at almost the same time, aged about 11 (watching 6 Nations and Ch4 NFL with my cousins) Bizarrely enough became a huge cricket fan at the same time (long school holidays and limited TV = Test Matches!) before an Ireland international team technically existed (it was a representative 'county' team under TCCB). Got into League thanks to Martin Offiah's generation, and although the League-Union rivalry made me smile, being Irish I never quite 'got' it, because I liked both (and NFL!) on a sort of continuum. And then watched my first Grey Cup at 19 - personally, I prefer the rules of CFL just because it's a more expansive game, which may be a rugby fan overhang, come to think of it... But yes, you start with the Touchdown - why is it called that when you don't have to actually try to touch the ball down, where as in rugby, you don't only have to try to touch down to score a try, you actually have to touch down!). The 6 tackles v 4 downs is parallel evolution, I think. But yes, rugby League is basically ironman NFL without the forward pass, so everyone becomes, literally, a running back! FWIW I've a couple of American friends (and several Canadians from Uni!) who are late but absolutely mad concerts to rugby, precisely because they cottoned on to the idea of a speeded up NFL with no breaks - they just consider the sport brilliantly barbaric!

NFL is clearly a very different sport from the two classic rugby codes (and CFL for that matter), but they do share a rather larger amount that some might imagine - a lot of NFL fans found the recent NRL Las Vegas games oddly recognisable as well as enjoyable (obviously League is much much closer in 'form' to NFL than Union)

Rugby U will do the same shortly. not sure about Rugby League. Universally accepted among rugby codes as a dangerous tackle technique best excluded.