In a significant development for British swimming, Filip Nowacki, a rising star in breaststroke, has officially chosen to continue his athletic journey at Loughborough University, as announced by GB Aquatics on social media this past Wednesday. This decision marks the next step in his career, with training set to commence in September 2026.
Loughborough University is well-known for its National Performance Centre, alongside a non-NPC program that engages closely with university athletics. Although the intensity of the British collegiate sports system does not quite match that of the United States, it does feature a championship event known as BUCS, which many swimmers from Loughborough actively compete in.
The recent commitment of Nowacki follows a trend where GB Aquatics, formerly recognized as British Swimming, has celebrated keeping its top talents within the country. In November, another promising swimmer, Jacob Mills—who also considered moving to the U.S. for training—was announced to be joining the Performance Centre in Manchester, England.
Nowacki, who is just 18, demonstrated his exceptional talent in 2023 by shattering the British Age Record for 15-year-olds in the long course 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:16.05. He also excelled at the Commonwealth Youth Games, where he earned medals across all three breaststroke distances. The following year, in 2024, he won a silver medal at the European Junior Championships in the 200 breaststroke.
His breakthrough year came in 2025 when he clinched gold medals in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke events at the World Junior Championships, along with earning several relay medals. Additionally, he bagged five medals at the European Junior Championships, achieving a remarkable sweep in the breaststroke category.
Hailing from Jersey in the Channel Islands, a small area known more for its dairy cows than swimmers, Nowacki represents a unique talent emerging from a population of just over 100,000. He competed for Jersey at the Commonwealth Games, where regions of Great Britain compete separately. Notably, Jersey has only secured four medals in its history at these games, none of which have been in swimming.
Starting his swimming career with Tigers Jersey under coach Nathan Jegou, Nowacki later transitioned to train with Keiron Piper at Millfield in England.
Nowacki’s Best Times
- Long Course Meter (LCM):
- 50m breaststroke: 27.18
- 100m breaststroke: 59.20
- 200m breaststroke: 2:07.32
- 200 IM: 2:03.30
- 50m breaststroke: 27.18
- Short Course Meter (SCM):
- 50m breaststroke: 26.31
- 100m breaststroke: 57.36
- 200m breaststroke: 2:02.96
- 200 IM: 1:55.44
- 50m breaststroke: 26.31
Nowacki has shown himself to be an outstanding short-course swimmer and would undoubtedly have thrived in the NCAA; however, his choice to remain in the UK allows him to concentrate solely on breaststroke events without the pressure of needing to compete in a third discipline.
As Adam Peaty's illustrious career winds down, the previously robust British breaststroking scene appears to be thinning out, yet there remains a wealth of promising talent on the horizon. Over the last year, Nowacki has established himself as Britain's top swimmer across all three breaststroke distances. In the 100m event, he stands among only three swimmers who dipped below the one-minute mark last year, alongside Gregory Butler (59.53, age 25) and Max Morgan (59.93, age 17). This trio currently represents the pinnacle of British breaststroke talent, with Nowacki and Morgan likely to lead the charge beyond 2028. It's worth noting that Butler had not previously broken the minute barrier until last year, indicating that his peak performances may still lie ahead.
Moreover, the legendary Adam Peaty, the current world record holder, recently entered a new chapter in his life after marrying Holly Ramsay, the daughter of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. Peaty has assured fans that he plans to return to competitive swimming in time for next year's Commonwealth Games, having taken a break from long-course events in 2025, though he did participate in short-course World Cup meets.
As the United States grapples with discussions around the impact of international swimmers on their college system, similar debates are unfolding internationally. National federations are keen to retain their elite athletes at home and often provide incentives for them to do so. GB Aquatics has successfully secured two high-profile commitments from top swimmers within just three months.
These decisions generally make sense; much of Britain's international success in swimming over the past decade can be attributed to athletes trained domestically, particularly noted in their exceptional men's 200 freestyle group, all of whom developed their skills within the UK.
