21 July 2025

In April our swimmers attended the Aquatics GB Swimming Championships. This is the highest level of domestic competition in the country. As a result of some strong performances from the Leeds Swimmers 5 of them were selected to represent Great Britain at the European Aquatics Junior Championships in Slovakia:
- Emma Wood – Started at Kippax Stage 8, joined the scheme in 2016
- Daniel Ransom – Started at John Smeaton Stage 8, joined the scheme in 2016
- Matilda Potter – Started at Kirkstall Stage 8, joined the scheme in 2018
- Hollie Wilson – Started at Scott Hall Stage 8, joined the scheme in 2018
- Gabriel Shepherd – Started at Harrogate SC, joined the scheme in 2022
Last week the selected swimmers travelled to Slovakia for the European Junior Championships. Which proved to be a week of fantastic development for all 5 of the individuals some of which performed at an outstandingly high level and came away with medals, whilst others experienced success in the form of learning and development which will serve them well for future exposures to the international stage.
Medals
Gabriel Shepherd
- Bronze – Men’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay
- Silver – Mixed 4x100m Freestyle Relay
- Gold – Men’s 4x100m Medley Relay
Hollie Wilson
- Bronze – Women’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay
Daniel Ransom
- Gold – Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay
- Gold – Men’s 4x100m Medley Relay
As a result of their performances across the week both Daniel and Gabriel have been subsequently selected for the World Aquatics Junior Championships in August, where they will represent Great Britain again amongst some of the strongest junior swimmers from across the world.
To have 5 swimmers at European Junior level is a fantastic achievement and is more than any other programme in Britian. A true testament to how strong our age group and youth development programme is.