Team England swimmers kickstart Glasgow preparations in London

Team England’s journey to the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games took an important step forward during their first full-team camp following selection.

The three-day camp, held from 20–22 May, marked the first time swimmers and staff came together for training and team building ahead of the Games in July.

It was followed by competition on 23–25 May at the AP Race London International, providing an early opportunity for athletes to race together as a squad.

Bringing the group together for the first time, the camp marked more than just a few days for the swimmers to train together – it was an opportunity to start building the identity, connections and culture that will underpin the team this summer.

From the outset, there was a clear focus on creating a strong sense of unity across the squad, with swimmers and staff from a wide range of backgrounds coming together under one banner.

Team England’s Swimming Team Leader Richard Blackshaw emphasised just how central that togetherness is to the team’s approach.

“It’s incredibly important to us. Not just from a Swim England and Commonwealth Games team, but from a community perspective as well, that the swimming community are behind us.

So we’re working incredibly hard on our unity and togetherness.”

That shared purpose has been shaped by the diversity within the team itself, bringing together a mix of experience, first-time swimmers and expertise.

“This is where we bring so much diversity together. We’re bringing young swimmers, senior experienced swimmers, we’re bringing para-swimmers, Olympic stream swimmers together.”

While pool sessions formed a key part of the week, much of the work happened away from the water – through conversations, activities and moments designed to help the group connect on a deeper level.

For Head Coach Andi Manley, this first camp was about far more than preparation – it was about turning a squad into a team.

“A large number of them arrived as strangers the other day. And so a big purpose for that is, right, let’s work together.”

Integration has been a defining feature of the environment, with Olympic and Paralympic pathway swimmers working side by side from day one.

“We’ve purposely created coaching groups where everyone is integrated. Every group is integrated, and that’s something we want to keep going.”

Simple but intentional activities – from team quizzes to shared discussions – have helped break down barriers and build understanding.

“If you understand each other better as people, then you can become better teammates (…) and then it just enhances that sense of the ‘one team’.”

The camp was designed to mirror what lies ahead, combining training with competition as the team moved into the AP Race London International at the end of the week.

It provided an early opportunity to put those developing connections into practice – particularly in relay environments – while also giving the leadership team valuable insight into how the group operates together.

“We saw it as a bit of a dry run for what’s to come in the summer. (…) So this was our chance to see how do we function together?” said Manley.

With lessons learned and relationships already strengthened, the week delivered exactly what was intended.

“For what we set out to achieve this week, it’s just a big tick all round.”

With the Games approaching at the end of July, the foundations have been laid – not just in performance terms, but in the sense of what it means to represent Team England together.