James Guy Wins 400 Free As Edinburgh International Wraps Up
James Guy won his first global medal when he claimed 400 free silver at the 2015 World Championships. On Sunday he continued his return to the eight-length race with victory at the 2025 Edinburgh International Swim Meet.
Guy made his international debut at the 2013 worlds in Barcelona where he finished fifth in the 400 free and led off the Great Britain 4×200 free relay that finished eighth.
James Guy: Picture Courtesy: Aquatics GB
A year later he finished third at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow before claiming silver at the worlds in Kazan, Russia, behind Sun Yang in a British record of 3:43.75 that stands today. Guy also won gold in the individual 200 free and anchored the Great Britain 4×2 quartet to victory.
Since then, he’s amassed three golds among six Olympic medals and as many titles amid eight more world medals. His last trip to the international 400 free podium came at the 2018 Commonwealth Games where he took bronze.
It appeared that his 400 days may be over but at the Paris Olympics he told Swimming World that he was “going to give the 400 a crack next year.”
On the final day of action in Edinburgh, he went out hard, reaching the 100m mark in 53.96 ahead of Tyler Melbourne-Smith, Charlie Hutchison and Daniel Wiffen, winner of the 8 and 15. Wiffen went ahead to take a 0.36 lead at halfway before Guy reclaimed the lead. He was 0.65 ahead of Wiffen at the final turn and came home in 3:48.78 ahead of Wiffen in 3:49.77 and Melbourne-Smith (3:52.08).
Richards Clinches Double; Vanotterdiik Just Shy Of Belgian Record
Matt Richards – winner of 4×2 gold in Tokyo and Paris – clinched the 100/200 freestyle double with victory over two lengths.
Richards reached halfway in 23.59 ahead of Alexander Cohoon and Jacob Mills and came back in 25.32 for victory in 48.91. Duncan Scott came through for second in 49.31 to add silver to his titles in the 200IM and 200 fly with Mills posting a 0.3sec PB of 49.33 for third.
Roos Vanotterdijk: photo courtesy: European Aquatics
Roos Vanotterdijk was just 0.01 off the Belgian 50 fly record as she came through in the final metres to take the title in 25.71. It was a PB for the European silver medallist and a sliver off the national standard of 25.70 set by Kimberley Buys at the 2017 World Championships. Vanotterdijk leaves Edinburgh with two titles in the 50 fly and 100 back as well as silver in the 50 back. Maaike de Waard was second in 26.13 with Eva Okaro third in 26.39.
Vanotterdijk returned for the 100 free where 50 winner Milou van Wijk led Marrit Steenbergen by 0.01 at halfway. The Dutch pair went stroke for stroke down the second 50 and it was world champion Steenbergen who got the touch in 54.01, 0.01 ahead of Van Wijk (54.02) with Vanotterdijk third in 54.18.
Vanotterdijk leaves Edinburgh with titles in the 50 fly and 100 back as well as second in the 50 back and third in the 100 free.
Wood Sets Meet Record In 200IM
Abbie Wood led throughout in the women’s 200IM to win in a meet record of 2:09.96 ahead of Ellen Walshe (2:11.19) and Leah Schlosshan (2:12.95).
Abbie Wood: Photo Courtesy: Morgan Harlow, Aquatics GB
Nyls Korstanje reached halfway in the men’s 100 fly well ahead in 24.07 before coming back in 27.70 for victory in 51.77, the Netherlands swimmer the only man inside 52. Clement Secchi was second in 52.45 with Ed Mildred taking third in 52.80.
Angharad Evans clinched the 100/200m breaststroke double with victory in the longer race.
The University of Stirling swimmer – who set a huge PB of 2:22.64 at the BUCS Championships in February – led Anna Morgan by 1.71 at halfway and was 1.11 ahead of Kara Hanlon at the final turn.
She took the title in 2:23.80, the second-fastest time of her career, followed by Hanlon in 2:25.88 and Ellie McCartney (2:26.68).
Shortt Takes 200 Back Title
The men’s 200 backstroke saw Luke Greenbank lead Swim Ireland’s John Shortt by 0.01 at halfway. The pair went stroke for stroke on the third 50 with Shortt moving ahead to lead by 0.30 at the final turn and, despite the challenge of the Tokyo bronze medallist, the Irishman claimed the title in 1:58.24 ahead of Greenbank (1:58.75) and Cameron Brooker (2:01.13).
John Shortt: Photo Courtesy: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
Katie Shanahan had a half body-length lead at the halfway point of the women’s 200 back with Holly McGill coming back on the third 50 to reduce it to 0.16 at the final turn. McGill drew on to Shanahan’s shoulder before going ahead to take the title in 2:09.81 with Shanahan – who was fifth at Paris 2024 – second in 2:10.02 and Honey Osrin third in 2:10.77.
Alisee Pisane and Leah Crisp went stroke for stroke in the first half of the women’s 1500 free with the Belgian leading by 0.34 at halfway. Pisane increased her lead and moved away to win and upgrade her 800 silver in 16:37.26.
Fleur Lewis ate into the deficit in the final 200m to overhaul Crisp and take second in 16:42.54 to 16:43.45. Crisp leaves Edinburgh with 400/800 gold and 1500 bronze.
Koen de Groot won the men’s 50m breaststroke in 27.89 ahead of Jonathan Itzhaki (28.11) and Rory Dickson (28.28).
