Molly Renshaw was relieved to put past Olympic trials disappointment behind her with a brilliant national record at the British Swimming Selection Trials.
Renshaw produced the swim of her life to win the 200m breaststroke in style with a British record time of 2:20.89 that was comfortably inside the clocking needed for Tokyo 2020 consideration.
The prize for GB’s finest swimmers is huge this week with those finishing in the top two of their event, under pre-designated consideration times becoming eligible for Olympic selection this summer.
Renshaw comfortably achieved that goal on day two at the London Aquatics Centre, with Abbie Wood doing likewise in the same event, while Kathleen Dawson and Cassie Wild reached the standard in the 100m backstroke and James Guy did the same in the 200m butterfly.
Renshaw suffered heartbreak in 2012 when she won the national 200m title but didn’t reach the qualifying time and then swam the qualifying time at the Olympic trials but didn’t win the race – meaning she missed out on a home Games.
She did compete at Rio 2016 – reaching the final – and the now-24-year-old has done what she needed to do to be in the frame for Tokyo selection.
“I knew how well I was swimming, so I was excited to taper down and see what I could do,” said Renshaw.
“I’ve had bad luck with Olympic trials in the past, so I’m glad that’s out of the way now and I’ve managed to reach the consideration time.
“I’d like to improve on the last Olympics. I was over the moon making the final in Rio and I want to take that next step this year and aim for the podium.”
Renshaw finished ahead of fellow Loughborough swimmer Abbie Wood in the 200m breaststroke final but Wood’s time of 2:21.69 was inside both the Tokyo 2020 standard and the old British record to put her in consideration for a first Olympic Games this summer.
“It’s such a relief to get the time,” said Wood. “Me and Molly pushed each other as best we could and it worked out well.
“I’m trusting in my coaches. I never used to be a fan of the gym but I’ve really bought into the whole programme finally – it has been a good five years coming.
“I’m glad I stuck at it as long as I did because there were definitely times I was ready to hang up my goggles but I’m glad I didn’t now!”
The 200m breaststroke wasn’t the only event that saw double success as University of Stirling attendees Kathleen Dawson and Cassie Wild both dipped under the consideration time in the 100m backstroke while finishing one-two.
Dawson won in a time of 58.24s – just 0.1s off the British and European record – as Wild clocked 59.51 in a hard-fought race.
“I’m completely delighted with that swim,” said Dawson. “I didn’t quite expect to go as fast as that but I’m over the moon and to get the consideration time along with Cassie is even better.”
Meanwhile, James Guy looks set for a second Olympic Games after smashing his personal best by over two seconds to notch a time of 1:55.20 in the 200m butterfly.
Guy won silver medals in the 4x200m freestyle relay and the 4x100m medley relay at Rio 2016, as well as finishing fourth in the individual 200m freestyle event, but his 200m Fly is ever-improving and he clocked a genuinely world-class time in London to beat Jay Lelliott.
“I haven’t done a 200m butterfly like this for a long time,” said Guy. “The time wasn’t really in my head because it’s not my main event but to get the qualifying time is a great start to the week.
The 800m freestyle events were also hotly-contested but the victors weren’t able to dip under the Tokyo consideration times.
Dan Jervis came agonisingly close in the men’s event as he held off Day 1’s 400m hero Kieran Bird to win in 7:50.33, less than half a second outside the clocking required, while Leah Crisp won the women’s in 8:44.67.
Meanwhile, Joe Litchfield – who reached the Olympic standard when finishing second in the 200m individual medley on Day 1 – triumphed in the 100m backstroke, just ahead of already-selected Luke Greenbank, but his time of 54.04s wasn’t quick enough to dive under the Tokyo criteria.
Sportsbeat 2021