Filip Nowacki is on a rapid ascent in the swimming world, recently claiming silver in the men’s 100 metres breaststroke and gold in the 200m breaststroke at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Despite his impressive achievements, the 18-year-old is not allowing himself to celebrate as he prepares for the European Aquatics Championships in Paris this week.

Nowacki's recent successes include:

• Silver in the 100m breaststroke, edging out mentor and three-time Olympic champion Adam Ramsay-Peaty who took bronze.
• Gold in the 200m breaststroke, surpassing Zac Stubblety-Cook, the 2020 Olympic gold medallist.

Acknowledging the pressures of transitioning from such a high, Nowacki stated, "No time to celebrate. After the Commonwealth Games, it’s always quite hard to settle back down to reality. It’s very important you do that as fast as possible."

He aims to maintain focus as he competes in the 100m breaststroke alongside Ramsay-Peaty, emphasizing the importance of mental recovery and preparation.

Nowacki, who is now the most decorated athlete in Jersey's Commonwealth Games history, expressed pride in his accomplishments, noting, "To step up on a senior international stage is challenging... after both my races, I could finally breathe again."

While Nowacki looked forward to competing against Leon Marchand, the four-time Olympic champion has withdrawn due to an adductor injury.

He remains eager to learn from Ramsay-Peaty, a swimmer he has admired since childhood, stating, "He’s definitely played a massive role in my character development." As he gears up for the championships, Nowacki continues to balance recognition of his achievements with the relentless pursuit of future glory.