Get ready for an exciting four-day swimfest! The 2025 Swim England National Winter Championships have kicked off, and boy, are they off to a thrilling start!
Eva Okaro Shines Bright
On the first day of the championships, held at the iconic Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, Sheffield, England, Eva Okaro, a rising star from the University of Texas, stole the show in the women's 100m freestyle. At just 19 years old, Okaro, an Olympian, clocked an impressive 51.74, leaving her competitors in her wake.
A Superb Split
Okaro's split times were exceptional, starting with a swift 25.04 and finishing with a strong 26.70. This performance not only secured her the third-fastest time of her young career but also showcased her potential as a future swimming powerhouse. Her personal best, an outstanding 51.48, was set in the semi-finals of the event in Lublin, where she ultimately placed fourth with a time of 51.63.
Silver and Bronze Contenders
Hot on Okaro's heels were Harriet Rogers, who claimed silver with a time of 53.27, and Kate Clifton from Sheffield, who took home the bronze in 53.91. These swimmers demonstrated their prowess and left spectators eager for more exciting races.
Men's Butterfly Battle
In the men's 50m butterfly, Josh Gammon, a 22-year-old swimmer from Bath, dominated the field with a remarkable time of 22.19. His performance was so impressive that it secured him a spot as the third-fastest British swimmer of all time in this event. But here's where it gets controversial... Gammon's teammate, Jacob Peters, had to settle for silver with a time of 22.42, just a whisker behind Gammon. Jamie Ingram from Manchester rounded out the podium with a respectable 22.74.
Top British Men's SCM 50 Fly Performers
- Jacob Peters - 22.10, 2023
- Ben Proud - 22.18, 2017
- Josh Gammon - 22.19, 2025
- Adam Barrett - 22.51, 2016
- Joe Litchfield - 22.58, 2020
Young Talent Shines in the 200m IM
Amalie Smith, a 16-year-old swimming sensation, registered the fastest 200m IM time of her career, leading her to a well-deserved gold medal. Smith's time of 2:07.83 not only improved upon her previous personal best of 2:08.82 but also tied her with Leah Schlosshan as the ninth-best British performer of all time. Schlosshan, who was also in the race, finished as runner-up with a time of 2:08.03, while Candice Hall took the bronze with a time of 2:11.50.
National Record Broken in the 200m Back
Cameron Brooker, a 23-year-old standout from the Bath Performance Centre, made waves in the men's 200m backstroke. Brooker's lifetime best of 1:48.36 not only secured him a gold medal but also shattered the previous national record held by Olympic medalist Luke Greenbank. Greenbank had to settle for silver with a time of 1:48.91, while Jack Skerry, a competitor from the European SC Championships, finished in third place with a time of 1:51.92.
Additional Notes
- Lucy Fox, a racing mainstay, dominated the women's 800m freestyle, winning gold with a time of 8:23.87, nearly six seconds ahead of her nearest competitor. Sophie Benn of Mount Kelly took silver with a time of 8:29.81, followed by Lucy Parsons, also from Loughborough, who claimed bronze in 8:30.32.
- Max Morgan of Reed's secured the top spot in the men's 100m breaststroke with a time of 57.84, the only swimmer to break the 58-second barrier. Greg Butler from Loughborough finished second with a time of 58.00, and Adam Bradley rounded out the podium in 58.87.
- Imogen Clark, the national record holder in the women's 100m breaststroke, topped the podium with a time of 1:05.99. Sienna Robinson from Loughborough finished second with a time of 1:06.12, and Imogen Myles took bronze in 1:07.45.
About Retta Race
Retta Race, a former Masters swimmer and coach, is a true multi-tasking powerhouse. With an MBA under her belt, a full-time job in IT, ownership of French 75 Boutique, and swimming insights for the BBC, Retta embodies the spirit of a productive and passionate individual.
Stay tuned for more thrilling races and record-breaking performances at the 2025 Swim England National Winter Championships! Don't miss out on the action!
