SWIMMING: Return thrills Jazz (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

SWIMMING: Return thrills Jazz

12:30pm Friday 22nd March 2013 in Sport

RESURGENT Jazz Carlin is confident she can get even faster after exploding back onto the international scene at the recent British Gas International Meet, writes Ned Payne.

The former Wootton Bassett School pupil missed out on qualification for London 2012 due to illness but swam long course competitively for the first time in nine months in Leeds.

The 22-year-old racked up three golds and two Welsh records to finish as the talking point of the event, and now she is focused on going even quicker ahead of World Championship trials in June.

Speaking on her 800m triumph, the first of her three wins in West Yorkshire, Carlin said: “I was very nervous beforehand because I hadn’t raced for a long time and I kind of stressed myself out a lot beforehand, but touching the wall and seeing a best time was just overwhelming.

“I wish I could bottle up that feeling and keep it because it was just amazing. It was a nice time and quite unexpected.

“There’s still things I want to improve on and I think that’s what the meet was for, so we could find out what else we can do in training that will make me faster.

“I didn’t expect to do the times that I did. I have been training really well but I wasn’t rested so it was a bit of a shock, and I think it shocked my coach (Bud McAllister) a bit as well.

“It was nice to put myself on the map again. I’m happy with the times for now and the meet has definitely helped me.

“Having my family and friends there as well has been great and I can’t thank everyone enough for the support.”

Carlin also stormed to gold in the 400m and 1500m, the latter of which she had not raced in seven years.

And she has not ruled out the possibility on taking on the latter of those events at World Championship trials.

She said: “It’s really about going back to the drawing board with plans for June and seeing if my body can manage the distance events and the 400m, which I’d love to be a part of. I’ll speak to my coach about it and we’ll make a decision closer to the event.”

Carlin will train between now and June although she will compete in the Celtic Tri Nations Championships in May, a competition that sees Wales, Ireland and Scotland go head to head.

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