Swimming star Hopkin hopes for great success at the Olympics in Paris
By Ben Hart, Sportsbeat
Olympic champion Anna Hopkin thinks that British swimming has never been better.
The Chorley-born star swam in the final leg for Team GB’s 4×100 mixed medley relay to win a stunning gold medal at Tokyo 2020.
She is one of a number of well-known faces who returned to the pool at British Swimming Championships. There she hopes to increase her chances of being selected for the summer’s World Aquatics Championships.
Hopkin is optimistic that Team GB will surpass the eight medals they won in 2020, with a second Olympics on the horizon.
“We’re not just trying to make teams anymore, we want to win medals,” said Hopkin, who trains in Loughborough at the British Swimming Performance Centre.
“I’ve not been on teams for too long, but I’d say for Tokyo it was the best the team has ever been.
“Obviously, it was our most successful Olympic Games and we’ve just got to carry that momentum through and hopefully by next year in Paris, we’ll have an even stronger team.”
Hopkin spent the winter in Australia with her team to prepare for the next season.
Hopkin and his team are now back at home and ready to share what they’ve learned. Hopkin believes that a shift of focus can help the team reach new heights.
“We’re putting quite a lot of emphasis on relays,” she said.
“I know that the men have had great success in relays over these past years so it’s really nice for the mixed relay to do so well.
“Kathleen [Dawson] That was me and it was an honor to be able to compete in that event at the Olympics.
“As the standards get higher, I think people want to be on those teams and they want to be on those relays because they want to be the ones winning the medals.
“As a whole, I think everyone’s aiming higher.”
The next stop on the path to Paris is the Ponds Forge International Sports Centre. A six-day spectacular awaits you from April 4-9.
Hopkin enjoys the chance to once again shine in front home crowds.
“It’s the first competition of the season where we are resting down and preparing to swim fast,” she said.
“It will give us a good indication of how things might go for the rest of the season and we are trying to make the teams for the World Championships, so we have to swim well to be able to move onto the next stage.
“I think it’ll be a good show.”
Tickets are still available to attend the British Swimming Championships in Sheffield (4th-9th of April). Go to The Ticket Factory Secure yours today – or view all the action on British Swimming’s every session YouTube channel.