Advertisement

Colchester and Wix swimmer Laura Stephens named in Team GB squad for Olympic Games

Jonathan Waldron
·2-min read
Selected - Laura Stephens has been named in the Team GB squad for this summer's Olympic Games, in Paris <i>(Image: PRESS ASSOCIATION)</i>
Selected - Laura Stephens has been named in the Team GB squad for this summer's Olympic Games, in Paris (Image: PRESS ASSOCIATION)

COLCHESTER swimmer Laura Stephens has been named in a 33-strong team to represent Team GB at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The former Colchester Swimming Club member is in the squad that has been today been confirmed by the BOA (British Olympic Association) to compete at this summer's Games.

The 24-year-old finished second in the women's 200 metres butterfly at the British Swimming Championships at the London Aquatics Centre, earlier this month.

Stephens, the reigning world champion in the event, finished second behind Scotland's Keanna MacInnes but the Wix swimmer swam under the qualification time in two minutes 07.37 seconds.

 

Team GB Chef de Mission Mark England said: “Team GB has a proud tradition in Olympic swimming competitions, and I am delighted to welcome all 33 athletes to the team for Paris 2024.

“The strength and depth of our pool swimming team was evident to see at the recent Aquatics GB Swimming Championships, and along with the ten swimmers making their debut for Team GB it is fantastic to welcome back seven Olympic Champions and nine Olympic medallists.

“I have no doubt the thrilling races we saw at the British Championships last week will be equally close fought.

“It is also fantastic to have three athletes contesting the marathon swimming races for the first time since 2008 and we’re excited to watch them all compete against the best in the world.”

Stephens will be targeting a butterfly medal in Paris.

The former Colchester County High School for Girls pupil become Great Britain's first individual female world champion since 2011 when she won a brilliant gold at the World Championships in Doha, in February.

Stephens grew up competing for Colchester Swimming Club, before moving onto Plymouth Leander.

She made the switch to the British Swimming Performance Centre, Loughborough after Tokyo 2020, where she swam the 200m butterfly and finished just outside the final spots in a very respectable tenth place in her event debut.