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Max LITCHFIELD
Sport Swimming
NOC Great Britain   
GenderMen
Born04 Mar 1995 in Pontefract, ENG
 Human Interest 
General Interest
Other information
WAIT FOR GOLD OVER
His gold medal in the 400m individual medley at the 2019 European Short Course Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, was his first senior title in a major international event. He said he was relieved to make the breakthrough, having previously won silver and bronze at the European championships and silver at the world short course championships. "It was a relief, it was nice to finally tick that one off. I never doubted myself. I work incredibly hard in training and when you then turn that into a result it's proof that all that training is worthwhile. It is nice to get that win, to know there's no longer a question about whether you can do it." (thestar.co.uk, 16 Dec 2019; SportsDeskOnline, 17 Nov 2020)

CLOSE COMPANY
He competed at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo alongside his brother Joe and partner Sarah Vasey. "We've joked for years about us [he and Joe] going to an Olympic Games together, so for it to actually happen is pretty amazing. We are competitive and we do argue at times. But we've always got along well and we really help drive each other because we don't want the other one to get ahead. I get to experience it all [Tokyo 2020] with my brother and girlfriend too, that's pretty damn cool." (teamgb.com, 27 Apr 2021; Instagram profile, 27 Apr 2021; countytimes.co.uk, 03 May 2021)
Further Personal Information
Residence
Loughborough, ENG
Sport Specific Information
Why this sport?
"My mum and dad took myself, my brother and my sister just as a good life skill. The club environment that I was in was just built for swimming and it helped me hone those skills down that have made me the swimmer I am today."
Further Personal Information
Family
Partner Sarah Vasey
Sport Specific Information
Club / Team
National Centre Loughborough: England
Further Personal Information
Higher education
Exercise Science, Sports Science - Sheffield Hallam University: England
General Interest
Injuries
A shoulder injury suffered in late 2017 forced him to miss the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, QLD, Australia. He was out the water for almost a year. (maxlitchfield.wixsite.com, 27 Jul 2018; swimming.org, 23 Feb 2021)

He was troubled by a shoulder injury for 18 months early in his swimming career. (pontefractandcastlefordexpress.co.uk, 07 Aug 2009)
Famous relatives
His younger brother Joe and his partner Sarah Vasey both represented Great Britain in swimming at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. His father Peter was a professional footballer in England, playing for Bradford City and Scunthorpe United. His sister Grace has competed in swimming at club level in England. (SportsDeskOnline, 30 Nov 2021; yorkshirepost.co.uk, 28 Jul 2021; swimming.org, 12 May 2020; dartes.co.uk, 22 Apr 2014; Instagram profile, 14 Feb 2021)
Awards and honours
He was named the 2016 British Universities & Colleges Sport [BUCS] Sportsman of the Year. (swimswam.com, 21 Dec 2016)

He was named the 2013 Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence [AASE] Apprentice of the Year in England. (pontefractandcastlefordexpress.co.uk, 01 Oct 2013; swimming.org, 18 Sep 2013)

He received the 2010 Hope For The Future award at the Doncaster Sports Awards in England. (your.asda.com, 13 Nov 2010)
Sport Specific Information
Name of coach
Dave Hemmings [club]
When and where did you begin this sport?
He began swimming at age five. His first club was Minsthorpe Marlins in England.
Further Personal Information
Occupation
Athlete
Languages
English
General Interest
Hobbies
Cricket, basketball, cooking. (Facebook page, 06 Aug 2018)
Memorable sporting achievement
Winning gold in the 400m individual medley at the 2019 European Short Course Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. (thestar.co.uk, 16 Dec 2019)
Sporting philosophy / motto
"When I was younger I looked up to swimmers and [athletes] from other sports as well. It's a subconscious thing, if you watch someone or listen to someone you pick up on it, and it helps." (swimming.org, 12 May 2020)

 Competition Highlights
Olympic Games
Rank Year Venue Event Result
4 2021 Tokyo, JPN 400m Individual Medley 4:10.59
4 2016 Rio de Janeiro, BRA 400m Individual Medley 4:11.62
World Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
12 2024 Doha, QAT 200m Butterfly 1:56.93
2 2024 Doha, QAT 400m Individual Medley 4:10.40 
4 2024 Doha, QAT 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:05.09
7 2019 Gwangju, KOR 400m Individual Medley 4:14.75
5 2019 Gwangju, KOR 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay  
4 2017 Budapest, HUN 200m Individual Medley 1:56.86 
4 2017 Budapest, HUN 400m Individual Medley 4:09.62
World Championships Short Course
Rank Year Venue Event Result
Heats 2021 Abu Dhabi, UAE 400m Individual Medley  DNS
Heats 2021 Abu Dhabi, UAE 200m Individual Medley 1:54.81
Heats 2021 Abu Dhabi, UAE 200m Backstroke  DNS
8 2021 Abu Dhabi, UAE 400m Freestyle 3:39.45
2 2016 Windsor, ON, CAN 400m Individual Medley 4:00.66 
Heats 2016 Windsor, ON, CAN 400m Freestyle 3:42.98
18 2016 Windsor, ON, CAN 200m Backstroke 1:54.29 
Heats 2016 Windsor, ON, CAN 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay  
European Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
3 2021 Budapest, HUN 400m Individual Medley 4:11.56
Heats 2021 Budapest, HUN 400m Freestyle 3:48.41
8 2021 Budapest, HUN 200m Individual Medley 1:58.52
2 2021 Budapest, HUN 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay  
3 2018 Glasgow, SCO 200m Individual Medley 1:57.96
2 2018 Glasgow, SCO 400m Individual Medley 4:11.00
5 2016 London, ENG 400m Individual Medley 4:15.10
7 2016 London, ENG 200m Individual Medley 2:00.71
Heats 2016 London, ENG 400m Freestyle 3:51.30
Heats 2016 London, ENG 200m Backstroke 2:02.29
Heats 2014 Berlin, GER 200m Backstroke  DNS
Heats 2014 Berlin, GER 200m Freestyle 1:51.38
4 2014 Berlin, GER 400m Individual Medley 4:14.97
Heats 2014 Berlin, GER 400m Freestyle 3:54.18
European Championships Short Course
Rank Year Venue Event Result
Heats 2019 Glasgow, SCO 100m Individual Medley 54.18
Heats 2019 Glasgow, SCO 200m Backstroke 1:53.90
Heats 2019 Glasgow, SCO 200m Butterfly 1:54.94
1 2019 Glasgow, SCO 400m Individual Medley 4:01.36
Heats 2019 Glasgow, SCO 200m Individual Medley 1:55.01