Nowacki wins first senior British swimming title

World Junior champion Filip Nowacki won his first British senior title as he took gold in the 200m breaststroke at the Aquatics GB Swimming Championships in London.

He finished the race 0.99 seconds ahead of 2025 champion Greg Butler who was second while Christian Ryan was third.

His time of 2:08.52 was 1.22 seconds behind Ross Murdoch's British record of 2:07.30 set at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The 18-year-old from Jersey had come second behind former Olympic champion Adam Peaty over 50m and 100m earlier in the Championships.

The times also secured both Nowacki and Butler's qualification for this year's European Championships, where Nowacki will also compete over the two shorter breaststroke events.

"It's always great to battle out with Greg, Ryan and the rest, and the field is so strong these days, so it was a great swim," Nowacki said after the race.

"There's work to do with my times and my underwaters, but definitely want to just improve the time and carry my momentum forwards into the summer."

Earlier on Saturday, Poppy Maskill, who won three gold medals at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, broke her own world record when she won the S14 women's 100m butterfly in the opening race of the evening session.

"I'm very happy with that, I didn't expect that at all," said Maskill, who finished in 1:01.52 as she beat her previous best of 1:02.58.

Jacob Mills recorded a personal best time of 21.91 in the men's 50m freestyle as he beat two-time Olympic gold medallist Matt Richards (22.07).

"To come back after a disappointing result on Thursday night [in the 100m freestyle}, it's good to come back and get another PB, so I was really pleased with that tonight," said Mills.

"I've been doing more work on the 200m this year, so it's a bit of a surprise to swim a PB, but really happy to put it all together."

Abbie Wood also swam a personal best as she won the women's 200m individual medley in 2:08.17, while Keanna Macinnes claimed victory in the women's 100m butterfly.

"I'm really shocked by that," said Wood, who claimed a third successive title in the event. "I couldn't see it at the end, so I was very shocked to hear the time at the end - but really happy."

British titles are being awarded in 36 medal events across the meet in London this week., external