South West Swimmers Spotlight: European Junior Championships

Team GB Tops the Table in Šamorín

Earlier this month, the European Aquatics Junior Championships unfolded in Šamorín, Slovakia — and Team GB rose to the occasion, topping the medal table with an impressive 19 medals, including 9 golds.

Among this wave of emerging talent were a selection of athletes rooted right here in the South West. It was a week that not only celebrated British swimming on the European stage, but also showcased the strength of our regional clubs in producing swimmers ready to compete with the best.

Blythe Kinsman

Mount Kelly’s Blythe Kinsman had a sensational meet, bringing home two gold medals and a bronze. She claimed the junior European title in the women’s 50m backstroke, clocking a personal best of 27.79 — now placing her 7th all-time in British history.

Blythe added a second individual medal to her tally with an impressive 1:00.70 in the 100m backstroke — a tightly contested race where just three-tenths of a second separated the top three finishers. She also played a key role in Team GB’s gold-winning mixed medley relay, anchoring the team alongside Filip Nowacki, Dean Fearn, and Theodora Taylor. 

Edith Price

Another Mount Kelly swimmer, Edith Price, gave a gutsy performance in the 200m butterfly, earning herself a silver medal and a place on the podium. She also played a key role in GB’s near-podium finish in the women’s medley relay — just missing bronze by a fraction of a second.

When we spoke to Edith, she gave us a glimpse into the thrill of competing on the European stage:

“Everything is louder — the atmosphere is just incredible. I had such an adrenaline rush walking out to race, representing my country and seeing all my friends and teammates in the crowd.”

“Bringing home a silver medal meant the world to me. It showed that all of my hard work in training was worth it.”

Flawia Kamzol

In the 50m butterfly, Flawia Kamzol won gold in a personal best of 26.17.

Flawia told us, “was a perfect race. I felt calm and ready, trusting my body to do what it knows best.” She credited a sharp reaction time, strong underwaters, and a clean breakout for her success — all of which came together thanks to key improvements made after a technical review of her semi-final swim with her coach.

“Unlike in the heats and semis, this time I timed my finish perfectly,” she said. “The expression on my face when I realised I had won the 50m butterfly final captures the emotions of this unforgettable meet perfectly.”

Representing Team Poland, Flawia also earned a bronze in the 100m butterfly and another medal as part of the mixed medley relay — a three-medal haul that, in her words, “exceeded my greatest expectations.”

“The bronze in the 100m butterfly, especially winning it by just 0.01 seconds despite an imperfect swim, made me incredibly grateful. Touching the wall in third place in that final unlocked something inside me – it helped break through a barrier of fear and self-doubt about performing to my full potential at major international competitions.”

Reflecting on the emotional growth she experienced, she shared:

“I’m especially proud of how much I’ve grown during this week – in how I managed my emotions and thoughts, especially in the call room before races, and how I stayed focused despite both highs and lows over the week.”

For Flawia, becoming a European Junior Champion truly felt like “a dream come true.” 

A Region to Watch

From Mount Kelly to Millfield, from Plymouth Leander to City of Bristol, the South West continues to produce athletes capable of magic on the European stage.

The success at Šamorín is the result of years of dedication — from the swimmers, the coaches, the clubs, and the support networks around them. These performances are a reminder that real talent is being nurtured right here on our doorstep — and the next generation of stars are already on their way.

Team GB – Full Squad Roll Call

• Hayden Annan, RTW Monson
• Amelie Blocksidge, City of Salford
• Jack Brown, Plymouth Leander
• Hannah Capron, Repton
• Jasmine Carter, Basildon Pheonix
• Skye Carter, Basildon Pheonix
• Jake Chesworth, Maxwell
• Phoebe Cooper, City of Sheffield
• Annabelle Compton, Wycombe District
• Rio Daodu, Mount Kelly
• Dean Fearn, Aberdeen Dolphins
• Toby Godsell, Millfield
• Joshua Inglis, Mount Kelly
• Blythe Kinsman, Mount Kelly
• Isobel Liptrot, Wigan BEST
• Harry Milne, Repton
• Imogen Myles, Sevenoaks
• Filip Nowacki, Millfield
• Llewllyn Porter, Camden Swiss
• Matilda Potter, City of Leeds
• Edith Price, Mount Kelly
• Daniel Ransom, City of Leeds
• Abbie Roscoe, Wirral Metro
• Gabriel Shepherd, City of Leeds
• Amalie Smith, RTW Monson
• Theodora Taylor, Torfaen Dolphins
• Hollie Wilson, City of Leeds
• Emma Wood, City of Leeds