In a significant development for British swimming, top breaststroker Filip Nowacki has officially chosen to join Loughborough University, marking his commitment to swim there starting in September 2026. This announcement, made by GB Aquatics on social media, follows Nowacki's exploration of opportunities within NCAA programs in the United States earlier this year.
Loughborough University is home to a National Performance Center as well as other university-affiliated programs, making it an attractive destination for athletes. While the competitive nature of the British collegiate sports system isn't quite on par with that of the U.S., there is a notable championship event called BUCS, which attracts many swimmers from Loughborough.
GB Aquatics has made headlines recently by successfully keeping its brightest talents in the UK, with Nowacki being the latest addition to this trend. Earlier, Jacob Mills, another promising swimmer who had considered training in the United States, opted to stay closer to home and will be training at the Performance Centre in Manchester, as announced in November.
Filip Nowacki, only 18 years old, began to make waves in the swimming world in 2023 when he broke the British Age Record for 15-year-olds in long course breaststroke with an impressive time of 2:16.05 in the 200m event. His success continued at the Commonwealth Youth Games, where he claimed medals across all three breaststroke distances. The following year, he added a silver medal in the 200m breaststroke at the European Junior Championships to his growing list of accolades.
The year 2025 marked a pivotal moment in his career, as he emerged victorious in both the 100m and 200m breaststroke events at the World Junior Championships, alongside earning medals in relay races. Additionally, he achieved an extraordinary feat by winning five medals at the European Junior Championships, completing a remarkable sweep in the breaststroke categories.
Hailing from Jersey, located in the Channel Islands, Nowacki is part of a unique demographic, as the island has a modest population of just over 100,000 people, more renowned for its dairy cows than its swimmers. He proudly represented Jersey at the Commonwealth Games, where various regions of Great Britain compete independently. Historically, Jersey has secured only four medals in its Commonwealth Games history, and none of these have been in swimming.
Nowacki's swimming journey began at Tigers Jersey under coach Nathan Jegou before he transitioned to training under Keiron Piper at Millfield in England.
Here are Nowacki's best times in different swimming disciplines:
Long Course Meter (LCM):
- 50m Breaststroke: 27.18 seconds
- 100m Breaststroke: 59.20 seconds
- 200m Breaststroke: 2:07.32 seconds
- 200m Individual Medley (IM): 2:03.30 seconds
- 50m Breaststroke: 27.18 seconds
Short Course Meter (SCM):
- 50m Breaststroke: 26.31 seconds
- 100m Breaststroke: 57.36 seconds
- 200m Breaststroke: 2:02.96 seconds
- 200m IM: 1:55.44 seconds
- 50m Breaststroke: 26.31 seconds
Nowacki is particularly noted for his prowess in short course swimming, and many believe he would have thrived in the NCAA setting. By choosing to remain in the UK, he can concentrate solely on his breaststroke events without the added pressure of finding additional races to compete in.
As British swimming transitions following Adam Peaty's illustrious career, the country’s depth in breaststroke talent appears to be dwindling, though there are promising prospects on the horizon. Over the past year, Nowacki has excelled in all three breaststroke distances, showing remarkable potential. He is one of only three swimmers who completed the 100m breaststroke in under a minute last year, alongside Gregory Butler and Max Morgan. This trio currently stands at the forefront of British breaststroke swimming, with young talents like Nowacki and Morgan likely to lead the way beyond 2028. Interestingly, Butler only broke the one-minute barrier for the first time last year, suggesting his best performances may still lie ahead.
Moreover, Adam Peaty, the world record holder, is now navigating a new chapter in life after recently marrying Holly Ramsay, the daughter of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. He has expressed intentions to return to competitive swimming in time for next year's Commonwealth Games after a break from long course events in 2025, although he did participate in several World Cup meets in short course.
While debates rage on in the United States regarding the impact of international athletes on their collegiate swimming scene, similar discussions are occurring abroad. National federations are eager to retain their top athletes domestically, and GB Aquatics has successfully secured commitments from key swimmers in recent months.
These decisions are largely logical, considering that much of the UK's international swimming success over the last decade has stemmed from athletes who trained within the country, including the exceptional men’s 200m freestyle team, all of whom honed their skills in GB.
