Swim Squad Awards 2025: Most Improved Swimmer

Swim Squad Awards 2025: Most Improved Swimmer

If there’s one thing our Swim Squad does better than almost any other group, it’s proving that improvement isn’t just possible – it’s happening right in front of our eyes, every single week. This year’s nominations capture that perfectly: lane-shifters, technique-transformers, cold-water warriors, PB-chasers, and swimmers who simply refused to stay where they started.

As with all of the awards, there are so many athletes who could be included here. So much swim progress in a year! 

Here are the athletes who inspired their teammates with their progress:

Dan

“57 minute Ironman swim. We all know how good he is, but having seen his swim at Roth be a handful of seconds over the hour, the commitment to not just get under it but to get himself comfortably under it was inspiring. Be More Dan is my nomination.”

“Unbelievable swimmer, yet still showing us that you can make gains at the pointy end of the pack.”

Dan reminded us that improvement doesn’t end when you’re already fast. He set a goal, had a laser focus, got specific, and delivered. That sub-60 became 57 – and a standard for the rest of us to chase.

Jo

“From front pack to front of the pack. Such a strong performance in Mallorca – faster than many of the pros in a swim. And then again at The ROC, almost leading the whole swim.”

Jo turned world-class swims into a habit this year. Front-pack wasn’t enough – she pushed further still.

Jon F

“Who saw Jon settling comfortably in Lane One at the start of the year?”

Jon’s quiet, relentless commitment has paid off in style. Lane One. Holding his own. Looking like he’s been there for years.

Dave G

“Keeping up with him on 25s is hard work!”

Sometimes the nomination says it all. Blink and he’s already at the wall.

Mel

“For me, I have personally loved watching Mel’s journey to become a ‘swimmer’. After a challenging Cross Mersey swim in 2024, Mel has gone from strength to strength with her swimming, moving up a lane and training hard. She has continued to swim through the autumn months and took on the Cool Mile in Liverpool with a podium place and her first night swim. Mel IS a swimmer!!”

A defining year for Mel – confidence, technique, open water bravery, and results to match.

Sara

“Has a swimmer transformed her technique as much as Sara has? Always thinking, always trying, always pushing.”

“Now regularly leading lane 2, cold water swimming etc – who learnt to swim not that long ago. She’s the Duracell swimmer of squad.”

From late-starter to lane-leader. Focus, energy, persistence. A transformation everyone noticed.

Flo

“From starting the year in lane 4, then 3 and now lane 2 – and an exceptional swim at Swansea. Well done Flo, what a great season”

A three-lane climb in a single year. That takes courage, consistency, and a willingness to test your limits.

Shane

“Probably Shane for most-improved swimmer, but he won’t admit / accept it!”

“The most noticeable for me is Shane. From not swimming with him since open water last year until early this year – his times had dropped and looks so smooth in the water.”

Shane’s progress has been obvious to everyone… except maybe Shane.

Matt F

“Matt. So studious and prepared to put the work in. Been an absolute pleasure to see him blast past.”

Thoughtful, deliberate, disciplined. And the results have followed – fast.

Lisa

“Lisa has had a very tough couple of years personally which impacted her training. Although this paused her swimming, it didn’t stop her – and now she is coming back better and stronger than before. I am so proud of how she has battled through the hard times.”

Resilience isn’t just turning up – it’s turning up again after everything. Lisa’s comeback has inspired many.

Anita

“She always shows up, is really supportive and has made MASSIVE improvements, progressing from Nick’s 30-minute technique sessions to doing 90 minutes of hard work every Monday.”

A textbook example of where steady, regular effort leads.

Closing Thoughts

What a category. What a group.

If there’s one thing these nominations show, it’s that improvement isn’t an accident. It’s the late night sessions, technique tweaks, lane changes, quiet confidence, and that stubborn little voice that says, “Go on then… let’s do one more.”

Every swimmer in this category has shown that progress looks different for everyone -sometimes it’s a lane jump, sometimes it’s a faster 25, sometimes it’s believing you belong at the front for the first time. But all of it is earned, noticed, and absolutely worth celebrating.

To everyone who was nominated: your teammates have seen the work. They’ve seen the courage. They’ve seen the shift. And now, they wanted to make sure you know it.

Well done, all of you.

A brilliant year of swimming – and the best bit?

There is plenty more still to come!