Alys Thomas Leads Six Welsh Swimmers In British Squad, But Jazz Carlin Takes A Break

Jazz Carlin is taking a break from swimming and has not been included alongside Alys Thomas, Chloe Tutton, Georgia Davies, Kath Greenslade, Calum Jarvis and Daniel Jervis in British Swimming’s world class performance programme.

The six Welsh swimmers are included but there is no place for Carlin, who will lose her funding as she recovers from recent illness and injury problems.

The 27-year-old double Olympic silver medallist has struggled for form in the pool and her recent switch to open water competition has also not gone smoothly.

Her 2018 campaign was hampered by illness after it was revealed she was suffering from pneumonia earlier this year.

She went on to finish sixth in the Commonwealth Games 800m final on Australia’s Gold Coast in April as well as 14th in the women’s 10km event at the European Championships in Scotland.

But the four-time Commonwealth Games medallist had to withdraw from last week’s 10km World Cup in China due to illness.

“Jazz Carlin is taking time out at the moment to get ready for the season after a difficult year with illness and injury,” British Swimming said in a statement.

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Only last month, Carlin wrote that she felt she was on the road to recovery following her spell in hospital earlier in the year.

She wrote: “It was a bit of a shock having to be in hospital for a few days, sitting down with the doctor and hearing it could take three months to feel normal. When you’re an athlete, it’s a bit of a kick to the teeth.

“But I’ve got amazing staff around here and people doing everything they can to make sure I’m in the best shape.

“Since then, I’ve had a couple of weeks’ recovery and I’ve gone from strength to strength. So I’m starting to feel back to my best again.”

But despite taking time out of the sport again, British Swimming believe Carlin will return to the sport.