Last month, Filip Nowacki competed at his first senior Aquatics GB Championships where he won Gold in the Men’s 200m Breaststroke and Silver in Men’s 50m and 100m Breaststroke. December saw Filip make his senior international debut at the European Short Course Championships in Lublin, qualifying for the Men’s 200m Breaststroke final, finishing in 4th place, and at the 2025 World Aquatics Junior Championships in Otopeni in Romania, Filip came away with the Gold medal in the Men’s 100m and 200m Breaststroke, Silver in the Men’s 4x100m Medley and Bronze in Mixed 4x100m Medley. For Team Jersey, Filip competed at the 2025 Island Games in Orkney, winning a total of 11 medals – 8x Gold, 1x Silver and 2x Bronze, including in the 50m and 100m Butterfly and 100m and 200m Individual Medley. Further success across Filip’s junior swimming career has been winning four Golds and one Silver at the 2025 European Junior Swimming Championships in Slovakia for Great Britain, Silver in the Boys’ 200m Breaststroke at the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF), again for Great Britain, and at the Commonwealth Youth Games, he won Silver in the Boys’ 50m and 100m Breaststroke and Bronze in the 200m Breaststroke, representing Jersey. Filip is an AP Race ambassador, which was founded by Adam Ramsay-Peaty and Ed Baxter, and he will be part of their event at the London Aquatics Centre from Saturday 23rd May to Monday 25th May. This summer, Filip has been selected for the Great Britain team for the upcoming European Championships in Paris, and he trains at Millfield under Kieron Piper. We chatted to Filip, who told us about getting his first British title last month at the Aquatics GB Championships, making his senior international debut at the 2025 European Short Course Championships in December, his 11 medal wins for Team Jersey at the Island Games in Orkney, his further successes over his career so far and being an AP Race ambassador.
What was it like competing at your first senior Aquatics GB Championships last month, and what does it mean to you to win Gold in the Men’s 200m Breaststroke and Silver in Men’s 50m Breaststroke and 100m Breaststroke?
The Aquatics GB Championships was an amazing experience for me with a lot of new experiences. To come away with a Gold and two Silvers was special, as it was my first British senior title.
You made your senior international debut at the 2025 European Short Course Swimming Championships in December; how did you find the experience competing in Lublin and what was it like qualifying for the Men’s 200m Breaststroke final (where you finished 4th)?
Making my senior international debut at the European Short Course Championships in Lublin was a huge learning experience. I learnt a lot from some very experienced senior athletes, both in the pool and out of the pool. Having qualified for a final and placing 4th was really motivating and made me excited for what is to come, as my preparation for Europeans wasn’t ideal, having to battle with a shoulder injury.
How has it been transitioning to senior level and joining the British senior swimming squad?
The transition into senior level has been challenging as the standard is very high day in, day out. Being able to be surrounded by some of the best athletes, who have so much experience, pushes me to constantly improve.
At the 2025 World Aquatics Junior Championships in Otopeni, Romania, you won Gold in the Men’s 100m and 200m Breaststroke; how did you feel becoming 2x World Junior champion, and also winning medals in the relay events?
Winning two individual Gold medals at the World Junior Championships in Romania was one of the proudest moments of my career so far. It will always be very special to me.
Can you tell us about competing at the 2025 Island Games in Orkney for Team Jersey, where you won 11 medals (including Butterfly and Individual Medley), and how different do you find this competition opposed to World and European Championships?
Representing Jersey at the Island Games in Orkney was a completely different experience. The atmosphere in a short-course arena feels more contained, and Orkney being my first Island Games made it a memorable week for me and my friends who I have trained with since I was young.
Having come away from last year’s European Junior Swimming Championships with four Golds and one Silver, what did you enjoy most about your time in Ĺ amorĂn, Slovakia, and what are some of your stand-out memories from the Championships?
The European Junior Championships in Slovakia was another unforgettable competition for me. It was my breakout meet, and winning four Golds and a Silver alongside some of my closest teammates created a lot of amazing memories. I really enjoyed the atmosphere around the competition venue and the team.
What was it like being selected for the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad (Jersey) and the European Youth Olympic Festival in Maribor (Great Britain) in 2023, and how was it competing at major multi-sport competitions at a young age?
Being selected for both the Commonwealth Youth Games and EYOF in 2023 was a massive step for me, as they were both my first tastes at international competitions. Those competitions taught me a lot about handling pressure for the first time and racing in multi-sport environments. Standing on the podium internationally at such a young age really motivated me and fuelled me with even more hunger moving forward.
What do you feel you learnt from the Commonwealth Youth Games and EYOF, and how was it standing on the podium – Silver in the Boys’ 200m Breaststroke at EYOF and Silver in the Boys’ 50m and 100m Breaststroke and Bronze in the 200m Breaststroke at Commonwealth Youth Games – so early in your career?
I think those early experiences helped me understand what international swimming is like. They began to teach me how important consistency, preparation and mindset really are.
How do you stay focused throughout international competitions and what is it like representing both Great Britain and Jersey?
During competitions, I try to stay very focused on my own processes and routines rather than overthinking results. Being able to represent both Great Britain and Jersey means a huge amount to me, and I’m very proud every time I get the chance to race for either one.
You are an AP Race ambassador, and will be racing at this year’s event from 23rd to 25th May at the London Aquatics Centre, how is it being involved with the organisation and what encouraged you to work with them?
Being involved with AP Race has been brilliant. They’ve created an amazing environment around the sport, and I’m really looking forward to contributing to some of their events. Working with Adam (Ramsay-Peaty), Ed (Baxter) and the rest of the AP Race team has been inspiring, and I’m grateful to be a part of the future.
Can you tell us about AP Race, and what are their events like to be part of?
AP Race events are unique as they bring together high-level racing with an exciting atmosphere for both swimmers and fans. They do a great job of growing and promoting the sport, as well as creating some fantastic opportunities for younger athletes.
Where does your love of swimming come from and how did you originally get started in the sport?
I started swimming when I was young and just loved being in the water since I can remember. Over time, it naturally became more competitive, and I quickly realised how much I enjoyed pushing myself and improving.
What does a typical training day look like for you and how much has it changed over the years?
A typical training day usually involves one or two pool sessions alongside gym work, recovery and school commitments. The training has become more professional and detailed over the years as I’ve progressed through the sport, and Millfield is a great place for me to develop in the pool whilst also studying.
When did you start specialising in breaststroke and is it the swim style you’ve always enjoyed most?
I’ve gradually started specialising more in breaststroke as I got older and realised it was my strongest stroke. I’ve always enjoyed racing, and breaststroke has a very technical side.
What is it like competing in relay events with your teammates, and how do you find the atmosphere differs to your individual races?
Relay events are always some of the most enjoyable races because you’re competing as part of a team rather than individually. That atmosphere is usually louder and more emotional, and sharing success with teammates makes it even more special.
Do you have any further career highlights over your time as a swimmer so far?
One of my biggest highlights, which often goes unseen, is moving to Millfield to train under Keiron Piper. This was a massive move for me as it allowed me to progress even further in the sport and develop a better understanding of both the technical and tactical side of the sport.
Were there any swimmers or athletes you particularly enjoyed supporting when you were younger, and do you have any other favourite sports to watch?
Growing up, I enjoyed watching a lot of different swimmers, Adam Peaty, Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte and Florent Manaudou, just to name a few. Outside of swimming, I also enjoy watching football and cycling, especially at the top level.
How do you like to spend your time away from the pool?
Away from the pool, I like spending time with friends and family and switching off from training when I can. I think having a good lifestyle balance is an important thing, especially in the sport of swimming.
After your success at the Aquatics GB Championships, you were selected for the upcoming European Championships in Paris this summer; what are you looking forward to for returning to the European Championships, and do you have any further competitions coming up that you can talk about, or that you are targeting?
I’m really excited to be heading to the European Championships this summer. It’ll be another great opportunity to gain experience at a senior international level and race against some of the best athletes in Europe. Right now, my focus is on continuing to improve and make the most of every opportunity ahead.
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