“If I can put down the best version of myself, I think I can medal” – Freya Colbert eyes podium places
Rewind the clock twelve years and you’d find a fresh-faced eight-year-old cheering on the British swimmers from the stands at London 2012.
That youngster was Freya Colbert. The same Freya Colbert who now has a major opportunity of her own to bring home silverware from Paris as part of AquaticsGB’s expectant squad.
The current Loughborough University student has had a remarkable year. In February she secured two medals at the 2024 World Championships in Doha, including a maiden global title in the 400m individual medley.
Now, with the games a matter of days away, the 20-year-old has all eyes on the pool in France.
“I'm so excited to say that I've been a part of Team GB and worn those Olympic rings on my chest. Having my name up there with incredible people, it’s a feeling of privilege,” Colbert told Loughborough Sport.
“To see my name next to people who have achieved such amazing things…it's a small group of people. If I go and make a final that’s an even smaller group…and if I medal, it’s even smaller!
“There are obviously the nerves that come with it, but I feel confident in the preparation and what we're doing now. I feel very confident that we're all going to put down good performances when we get out there.
“If I can put down the best version of myself and everything goes to plan, I think I can get close to winning a medal. If you see me with one around my neck, you’ll know that I'm very happy.”
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Notes for editors
Press release reference number: 24/107
Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.
It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2024 QS World University Rankings – the eighth year running – and University of the Year for Sport by The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2022.
Loughborough is ranked 6th in The UK Complete University Guide 2025, 10th in the Guardian University League Table 2024 and 10th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024.
Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’, and in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 over 90% of its research was rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally-excellent’. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.
The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.
Rewind the clock twelve years and you’d find a fresh-faced eight-year-old cheering on the British swimmers from the stands at London 2012.
That youngster was Freya Colbert. The same Freya Colbert who now has a major opportunity of her own to bring home silverware from Paris as part of AquaticsGB’s expectant squad.
The current Loughborough University student has had a remarkable year. In February she secured two medals at the 2024 World Championships in Doha, including a maiden global title in the 400m individual medley.
Now, with the games a matter of days away, the 20-year-old has all eyes on the pool in France.
“I'm so excited to say that I've been a part of Team GB and worn those Olympic rings on my chest. Having my name up there with incredible people, it’s a feeling of privilege,” Colbert told Loughborough Sport.
“To see my name next to people who have achieved such amazing things…it's a small group of people. If I go and make a final that’s an even smaller group…and if I medal, it’s even smaller!
“There are obviously the nerves that come with it, but I feel confident in the preparation and what we're doing now. I feel very confident that we're all going to put down good performances when we get out there.
“If I can put down the best version of myself and everything goes to plan, I think I can get close to winning a medal. If you see me with one around my neck, you’ll know that I'm very happy.”
Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.
It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2024 QS World University Rankings – the eighth year running – and University of the Year for Sport by The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2022.
Loughborough is ranked 6th in The UK Complete University Guide 2025, 10th in the Guardian University League Table 2024 and 10th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024.
Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’, and in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 over 90% of its research was rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally-excellent’. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.
The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.
