Eighteen-year-old Filip Nowacki, an A-level student from Jersey, has become one of swimming's breakout stars at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, achieving a significant victory over his idol, Adam Peaty. Nowacki secured gold and silver medals, with his performances in the 200m breaststroke achieving times that would have placed him on the podium at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Nowacki's journey to the top began with an early aversion to water. "I hated the water and cried before swimming lessons!" he recalled. His parents, who moved to Jersey from Poland in 2002, insisted on swimming lessons when he was around five or six. It was not until he was seven or eight that he began to enjoy the sport after a taster session at the Jersey swimming club. While Jersey offers opportunities for open-water swimming, Nowacki found he preferred the structured environment of a pool.
During his secondary school years, Nowacki participated in various sports but found his aptitude lay outside of contact sports. He focused on swimming, cycling, and running, and a pivotal moment came at age 14 during the swimming nationals at Ponds Forge in Sheffield. He went from being ranked between 10th and 20th in his events to winning four gold medals, an experience that ignited his competitive drive.
His swimming coach at the Jersey Tigers encouraged him to attend Millfield boarding school for his sixth form studies, allowing him to dedicate more time to training and technique. Last year, after completing his lower-sixth exams, he won the 200m breaststroke at the Junior European Championships. This year's Commonwealth Games marked a significant shift, as it was the first major competition where he did not have A-level exams to contend with. "Knowing I don’t have any schoolwork to do whilst I’ve been here has been quite nice!" he stated.
Nowacki, who is not as physically imposing as some of his competitors, including Peaty, has developed a swimming style characterized by speed and technical precision. Michael Jamieson, an Olympic silver medalist and TNT Sports expert, described Nowacki's technique as "perfect," noting his longer stroke, lower stroke rate, and exceptional streamline position. Jamieson compared Nowacki's natural speed and smaller frame to that of Olympic champion Kosuke Kitajima, suggesting that Nowacki is a "trailblazer" who is already competing at the highest global level shortly after leaving junior competition.
Despite his idolizing Peaty, Nowacki has drawn inspiration from racing alongside him. "I saw Adam in the lift after my race on Tuesday night and he congratulated me," Nowacki said. "I’ve looked up to him for most of my life. I was eight years old when he won his first Olympic gold so to be racing in the lane next to him is pretty special." He sought advice from Peaty before the Games, asking questions for an hour and a half.
Nowacki's current physique is well-suited for his primary event, the 200m breaststroke. He explained, "I’m not the tallest of men and I’d love to put on muscle but there’s no point, given the momentum I’m carrying in the 200. If I get too big, I’m going to end up fighting the water, rather than gliding through it."
Jamieson believes Nowacki has significant potential for improvement and is likely to be a strong medal contender at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Nowacki himself views the Commonwealth Games as a crucial step towards his Olympic aspirations. "Every athlete dreams of the Olympic Games," he said. "Coming here and winning medals is a big step in the right direction."