Next generation ready for European Juniors action in Belgrade

The annual competition showcases the best up-and-coming talent on the continent for athletes born primarily between 2005-2009, with successful swimmers from the event consistently going on to make impressions on the senior European and global stages.

The team will be looking to build on a successful set of performances in last year’s edition of the competition, which saw the group earn 11 medals and valuable international experience; an achievement that undoubtedly contributed to a strong set of performances at the British Swimming Championships earlier this month.

The squad for the competition features several individuals who contributed to that medal tally in Otopeni last summer, including Great Britain’s sole individual gold medallist Leah Schlosshan, who will look to defend her Women’s 200m Individual Medley title in a summer that also sees her named in the European Under-23s squad for the following month. Also named in both Belgrade and Dublin squads will be Eva Okaro who will be racing in sprint freestyle and fly events.

Other medallists returning to the European Junior stage following podium success last year include Matthew Ward, Evie Dilley, Ashleigh Baillie, Erin Little and Reuben Rowbotham-Keating. Fourteen-year-old Amelie Blocksidge will make her first appearance for Great Britain at a major international event following her momentous Women’s 1500m Freestyle British title win, while European Youth Olympic Festival medallists Oscar Bilbao, Blythe Kinsman, Phoebe Cooper, Skye Carter and Stefan Krawiec are all also included.

Speaking on the team selected for the competition, British Swimming Head of Performance Development Alan Lynn was full of optimism about what the young team can produce a year out from the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and with other senior international events on the horizon for this cohort down the line.

“The British Swimming Championships allowed our junior swimmers to showcase the best of their abilities ahead of what will be another productive year for those looking to make their way into the senior teams” he said.

“We have selected a strong team with experience from across the junior competitions, who will all be aiming to move their performances on in what will be an unfamiliar arena in Belgrade.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what they can do just one year out from Paris and five years out from LA 2028.”

British Swimming team selected for the 2023 European Junior Swimming Championships, Belgrade (4^th-9^th July)

Ashleigh Baillie, City of Sheffield

Oscar Bilbao, Repton

Vadim Bosc, Mount Kelly

Hannah Bowley, Repton

Amelie Blocksidge, City of Salford

Skye Carter, Basildon Phoenix

Iona Colbert, Nova Centurion

Mabli Collyer, Swansea Aquatics

Phoebe Cooper, City of Sheffield

Laurie Devine, Repton

Evie Dilley, Millfield

Rue Fowler, Team Bath

Lucy Fox, Wycombe District       

Reece Grady, Stockport Metro

Adam Graham, Millfield

Blythe Kinsman, Mount Kelly

Stefan Krawiec, East Lothian

Jessica Lawton, City of Bristol

Erin Little, Mount Kelly

Edward Marcal Whittles, Chelsea & Westminster

Holly McGill, Heart of Midlothian

Tyler Melbourne-Smith, City of Liverpool

Callum Melville, Nova Centurion

Jacob Mills, City of Leicester

Eva Okaro, Sevenoaks

Sienna Robinson, City of Sheffield

Reuben Rowbotham-Keating, City of Manchester Aquatics

Leah Schlosshan, City of Leeds

Joseph Stout, City of Salford

Olivier Vedrenne, City of Norwich

Matthew Ward, Mount Kelly

Sophie Weston, Warrington Warriors

Solomon Williams, Millfield

Harry Wynne-Jones, City of Milton Keynes

Coaches selected to the 2023 British Swimming team for the European Junior Swimming Championships

Lisa Bates (Head Coach), Chelsea & Westminster

Lisa Atkinson, City of Bristol

Richard Denigan, City of Leeds

Dale Frantzeskou, City of Cardiff

Greg King-Limb, Mount Kelly

Ash Morris, Repton

Mark Rose, City of Manchester Aquatics

Ross Douglas (Support Coach) – University of Edinburgh