Two current Sheffield Hallam athletes and three alumni have been selected in the England Swimming team and will be considered for the final team that will represent their nation at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Press contact: Luke Fowler | l.fowler@shu.ac.uk.

Sheffield Hallam Students, Amy Bell and Jay Lelliott, have made the first ever England Commonwealth Games swimming team alongside Hallam alumni Max Litchfield, Joe Litchfield and Charlie Brown.

Amy, who is in her first year studying operating department practice, and second year sport and exercise psychology student Jay are two of a total of 85 swimmers named in the provisional team. The 85-person squad will then be reduced closer to the start of the competition in line with qualification standards.

Sheffield Hallam have ensured that these students have been given the support required to achieve a dual career, providing them with a platform to be successful both in their sporting careers and their academic studies. This support included strength and conditioning, physiotherapy, nutrition, sports psychology, performance lifestyle and academic flexibility.

Max Litchfield has previously competed in the 400m individual medley and 1500m freestyle at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. He also competed at the 2016 Olympic games in Rio and finished 4th in the 400m Men’s Individual Medley final, setting two personal best times whilst doing so.

Amy Bell said: “It felt great to be selected especially in the current circumstances. It is something good that has happened amongst everything going on in the world right now. I’ve just got to carry on working hard and hopefully get my name on the list for next year.

“As a dual athlete at Hallam they have been great in helping me manage my studies and swimming alongside each other. They provide academic flexibility to ensure that I can still complete my studies even while training for major competitions such as the British Champs.”

Jay Lelliott, who will be featuring at the Commonwealth Games for the second time if he makes the final squad, said: “This is a steppingstone in the hope of being selected for the Commonwealth Games team in 2022. I would love to have the opportunity to compete in Birmingham in front of a home crowd.

“When I competed 7 years ago at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, I saw just how much the home crowd getting behind their athletes means to them, and although the Scottish crowd supported us too, it would be amazing to experience that to the fullest extent.”

Jordan Butler, the Sport Development Performance Co Ordinator at Sheffield Hallam University, said: “Amy and Jay’s selection for the training squad is strong recognition of them as athletes and of the programme that is delivered in Sheffield with City of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University.

“Being a Swim England Performance Centre for the past 2 years acknowledges the programme we have in Sheffield, and shows that Sheffield is one of the best places to be a student athlete swimmer set on reaching their performance goals.”