Max Litchfield claims Rio spot but Halsall and Wilmott fall short

Max Litchfield has set himself a medal target after qualifying for the Rio Olympics by winning his first British title.

The 21-year-old City of Sheffield swimmer recorded a time of 4:12.05 to clinch the men's 400m individual medley on day three at the British Swimming Championships in Glasgow - which double as Great Britain's Olympic trials.

That was inside the qualifying standard of 04:12.08 and Litchfield immediately set himself the target of going a few seconds quicker.

"I have dreamed of this day for years and years," he said afterwards, "I always said when I was younger that I would make that Olympic team and that has become a real experience since then.

"It is a bit weird really but I am really, really happy.

"I have made the team now and, come Rio, if I get the chance to go there then obviously we can look to make the final and then kick on and get a medal.

"There is no reason why I can't. 4:08 won the worlds (World Championships) last year so there is no reason why I can't drop another few seconds."

There were mixed feelings, however, for several other title winners who failed to meet the Rio qualifying times, including Fran Halsall and Aimee Wilmott.

Halsall stormed to the 50m freestyle title in 24.48 but was shy of the qualifying time of 24.37.

The 26-year-old Loughborough University swimmer said: "Trials are hard for me, it is me against myself.

"I have been doing really well, training has been going well and to come here and only swim that time is quite disappointing."

Wilmott, the 23-year-old from Middlesbrough who competed at the 2012 Olympics, won the Women's Open 200m butterfly with a time of 2:08.82, outside the Rio qualifying time of 02.06.51.

Jazz Carlin won the women's 800m freestyle in 08:27.49 but was more than four seconds outside the Rio benchmark.

The Welsh swimmer, who won 200m freestyle gold on Monday and will race again in the 400m later in the week, said: "It is difficult. I want to be at my best and get on that Olympic team.

"It has been a bit of a tussle for a couple of weeks. I have really put a lot of pressure on myself to not miss out on the Olympics, four years ago it was heart-breaking for me."

Duncan Scott shocked himself when he won British gold for the first time in the Men's Open 100m freestyle, breaking a Scottish record he had broken earlier in the qualifiers.

Scott finished ahead of Englishman Ben Proud in the final in a time of 48.66, albeit outside the Olympic qualifying time of 48.16.

"It was a shock to me. But I'm absolutely delighted," the 18-year-old University of Stirling swimmer said.

"It's my first full year at Stirling and it's showing. It's a great facility and a great place to train."