By Paul Jones
Alys Thomas has admitted she has a busy weekend of thanking people who helped her book a likely spot to Tokyo and the Olympics this summer.
Wales’ Commonwealth Games champion confessed she had been ignoring messages on her phone after coming from behind to storm to victory at the British Olympic trials in London.
Her victory – achieved inside the Games consideration time – in the women’s 200m butterfly means Thomas is set to be included in the Great Britain squad for her first Olympic Games at the age of 30.
“It means the world to me,” said Thomas, who has had to overcome fitness issues over the past few months.
“It means the world to my friends and family at home. I’m sure I’ve got a couple of messages ping but I’ve just been ignoring my phone, so I’m sorry about all those people I’ve not been replying to. I’ll get back to you!
We are so happy for this girl @alys_thomas and the fantastic team around her. No one serves this more 💙🏴 #thisgirlcan https://t.co/5zsdcR8PyV
— Swim Wales (@SwimWales) April 16, 2021
Thomas came from second at the final turn to touch first in 2:08.09, inside the consideration time.
Keanna MacInnes, of the University of Stirling, was next home in a one-second PB of 2:08.86, just outside the cut.
Thomas, who has a personal best of 2:05.45 from the 2018 Commonwealth Games, added: “It took a while to look at the board and realise it was me in that lane and it was me that had done it!
“The last couple of years have just been so up and down and overwhelming at some points, I’m so glad I did it, I believed in myself today and I got the time I wanted.”
Matthew Richards is also likely to be selected for Japan this summer after he posted a Welsh record time of 48.23 to finish second behind Duncan Scott in the men’s 100m freestyle.
Richard was also inside the consideration time and looks a certain selectors’ pick.
British Swimmers Having Achieved National Olympic Qualifying Times in Individual Events
Adam Peaty – 100m breast (pre-qualified)
James Wilby – 100m breast (pre-qualified), 200m breast
Duncan Scott – 200m free (pre-qualified), 200m IM, 100m free
Luke Greenbank – 200m back (pre-qualified)
Freya Anderson – 200m free
Kieran Bird – 400m free
Aimee Willmott – 400m IM
Harriet Jones – 100m fly
Joe Litchfield – 200m IM
James Guy – 200m fly
Kathleen Dawson – 100m back
Cassie Wild – 100m back
Molly Renshaw – 200m breast
Abbie Wood – 200m breast
Max Litchfield – 400m IM
Brodie Williams – 400m IM
Alys Thomas – 200m fly
Matt Richards – 100m free
Ross Murdoch – 200m breast