Record-breaking end to Fukuoka World Championships as University of Bath-based swimmers past and present secure more medals
Freya Anderson and University of Bath alumna Anna Hopkin helped British Swimming secure their final medal of the Fukuoka 2023 World Aquatic Championships in record-breaking style.
After narrowly missing out on the podium in the women’s 4x100m and 4x200m freestyle relays, British Swimming Performance Centre Bath athlete Anderson anchored the mixed 4x100m freestyle quartet to a bronze medal in 3:21.68, a new British and European record.
It was Britain’s first-ever World Championships medal in the event, a second World medal of her career for Anderson and a first for Sport and Exercise Science graduate Hopkin. They were joined in the quartet by former Bath-based swimmer Matt Richards and Duncan Scott.
“It’s really nice,” said Anderson, who is coached by David McNulty at the Team Bath Sports Training Village. “We’ve had two fourth places in the women’s freestyle relays and I was anchoring them both. That has been on my mind, what I could’ve done differently, so it’s been about forgetting about that, refocusing for these guys and getting the job done, which we all did.”
University of Bath sporting scholar Tom Dean also received bronze after helping Britain qualify through the morning’s heats. It was his fourth medal of the week following his 4x200m freestyle relay gold, 200m freestyle silver and 200m individual medley bronze.
Ben Proud, who represents the University of Bath Swimming Club, returned to the podium for a fourth successive major international competition by winning 50m freestyle bronze.
“I feel in a good place,” said Proud, who went into the race as defending champion. “That was a competitive field and I’m glad to get my hand on the wall. There’s still more work to do but it’s nice to come to Worlds and get another medal for the team.”
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