Carlin Targets Tokyo After Withdrawing From Next Month’s Worlds

Jazz Carlin has set her sights on the 2020 Olympics after pulling out of Britain’s team for next month’s World Championships.

Wales’ double Olympic silver medallist feels she is not in peak form for the champs in Budapest having been hit by injury and illness since Rio.

Carlin was runner-up in the 400m and 800m freestyle in Brazil and also won 800m freestyle bronze at the last worlds in Russia two years ago.

The 26-year-old had discussed quitting with her coach after Rio but opted to carry-on.

Bath-based Carlin now feels she should have taken a post-Games break but insists she will come back stronger as she targets Tokyo in 2020.

Carlin said: “Rio was such a high for me, but this year I have struggled with niggles and injury and, in hindsight, my body needed a break to recharge.

“I’m grateful my coaching team have supported my decision not to attend the World Champs in order to get myself back on track.

“I go into every race determined to perform at my best and I know I am not quite there this time.

“I’m still training steadily in Bath and will be looking to build whereby come September I’ll be raring to go for next season, driving towards Tokyo 2020.”

Head Coach Bill Furniss said: “Jazz had a long rest after last year’s Olympics Games, which she needed to do.

“Since then she has been working hard, despite minor illness and injury, to get herself back into her best competitive shape.

“She feels she isn’t going to be able to get there in time for the World Championships. With a long term view of her career, this is the right decision to take.”

Carlin was one of five Welsh swimmers who were set to compete in Budapest.