Angharad Evans Becomes First Briton To Break 2:20 Barrier in 200 Breaststroke; Freya Colbert Lowers 200 Free Record
Angharad Evans became the first British woman to break the 2:20 barrier in the 200 breaststroke with a pioneering performance at the national championships in London.
Angharad Evans: Photo Courtesy: Sam Mellish/Team GB.
Evans stopped the clock at 2:19.70 to take a 1.19sec chunk from Molly Renshaw’s 2:20.89 standard from 2021. It elevates her to fifth European all-time and is just the 11th woman to have gone inside 2:20.
The University of Stirling swimmer arrived with a best of 2:21,86 from the 2025 edition. Out in 31.97, she split 35.26/35.92 before coming home in 36.55.
“It felt really good out there, I had to just trust myself,” she said. “My worst choices have been when I didn’t trust myself. [Trials] are a good time of the season to test yourself … it’s a little taste of summer. Preparation has been tough in training so tough that a slow time will be would’ve been really surprising because my coaches have set me off for a really good swim.”
All-Time European Performers
2:17.55: Evgeniia Chikunova, 2023 Russian Championships
2:19.11: Rikke Moller Pedersen, 2013 World Championships
2:19.41: Yulia Efimova, 2013 World Championships
2:19.64: Viktoria Gunes, 2015 World Junior Championships
2:19.70: Angharad Evans, 2026 British Championships
Coached by Ben Higson, Evans stands top of the 2026 rankings with the US trials to come. She’s already been preselected for Team Scotland for the Commonwealth Games in July and will head to the Europeans in Paris favoured to reach the podium.
It begs the question of what Evans will do in the 100 in which she’s twice posted 1:05.46 this year, 0.09 off her national record.
“The time still has not settled in,” she added. “I heard the crowd really loudly and I was hoping I was beating my PB. To not only get the British record but to be the first British woman sub-2.20 is absolutely phenomenal, and I don’t think it will sink in for some time.”
Abbie Wood was second in 2:24.72 with Anna Morgan third (2:26.40).
Colbert Lowers 200 Free Record
Freya Colbert was the second woman to write a new line in the history books when she lowered her own 200 free record.
Freya Colbert: Photo Courtesy: Morgan Harlow/Aquatics GB
The Loughborough swimmer arrived with a best of 1:54.90 that made her the first Briton to break 1:55 at last month’s Edinburgh International. On Thursday she lowered that time to 1:54.34, getting closer each time to that 1:53 mark she feels will see her jostle for medals on the global stage.
Splits: 27.30/55.79 (28.49)/1:24.88 (29.09)/1:54.34 (29.96)
“If they (the British records) keep on coming, I’m not going to complain,” said Colbert. “I think I’ve done some really good work so far this season, particularly around some technical stuff, and it’s all really come together in a bit of a fairytale this past month, in Edinburgh and now here. Hopefully we can keep the ball rolling into the rest of my races this week, and into the summer.”
Freya Anderson was second in 1:57.00 with Leah Schlosshan third in 1:57.49.
Morgan Rattles Rankings
Oli Morgan scorched to 52.41 to go second in the 100 back rankings, 0.01 off Pieter Coetze’s 52.40 at South African Nationals.
It was the joint third-fastest performance of his career and matched his semifinal time from the 2025 worlds before he went on to finish fifth.
Ollie Morgan: Photo Courtesy: Morgan Harlow
It earned Morgan a spot on Team England at the Commonwealths and for Britain at the Europeans in Paris where the men’s backstroke events have enormous depth and promise much.
Matt Ward (53.58) and Cameron Brooker (53.69) joined Morgan on the podium.
Matt Richards and Jacob Mills both went 47 in the 100 free prelims, clocking 47.61 and 47.72 respectively to promise a thrilling tussle to come.
In the final, Richards was the only man to break 48, stopping the clock at 47.53, 0.08 off his British record. Mills (48.09) and Jacob Whittle (48.52) followed him home.
Lauren Cox clinched the 50/100 back double with a clear 27.39 win over one length. Blythe Kinsman (28.10) and Medi Harris (28.67) were next home.
Reece Grady won the men’s 1500 free in 15:14.76.
In the multi-classification races, Will Ellard (men’s S14 00m freestyle) reclaimed his world record in 50.41.
